Evaluation
Historical significance
His leadership connected revolutionary theory with decisive political action, while his government also built coercive one-party rule.
Actions to know
- Recast Bolshevik strategy through the April Theses
- Pressed for an October seizure of power
- Accepted Brest-Litovsk and later NEP to preserve the regime
- Defended one-party authority and coercion
Limits on influence
His strategy depended on wider social crisis, party organisation, soviet support, and other leaders such as Trotsky.