Law of the Uneven Economic and Political Development of Capitalism in the Age of Imperialism, an objective law, discovered by Lenin, according to which the economic and political development of the capitalist countries under imperialism proceeds by leaps, resulting in a periodic redivision of the already divided world, a general sharpening of the rivalry between the imperialist countries and the possible victory of socialism initially in a few countries or even in one capitalist country alone. As the general crisis of capitalism progresses, the uneven development of capitalism is becoming more pronounced. Owing to capitalist private property, the pursuit of profit and the anarchy of production, capitalism develops unevenly at all its stages. With the transition to imperialism, however, this unevenness becomes spasmodic because of the sharply accelerated concentration and centralisation of production and capital, the sway of monopoly capital and major shifts in the development of science and technology, enabling some capitalist countries rapidly to outstrip other countries. The export of capital, which strengthens the positions of the monopoly groups of some countries to the detriment of others, is also of importance in this respect. As a result of uneven economic development, the leading imperialist countries insist on re-carving the already divided capitalist world in keeping with the new alignment of forces. This gives rise to growing contradictions between the imperialist countries and to the rival imperialist groups resorting to military methods, which caused the First and Second world wars. Analysis of the operation of this law enabled Lenin to draw the historic conclusion concerning the possibility of socialism triumphing first in a few countries, or even in one capitalist country alone. The imperialist system breaks at one of its weakest links. It was tsarist Russia that, in 1917, proved to be such a link, and the centre of the economic, political, social and national contradictions of imperialism. The Great October Socialist Revolution gave birth to the USSR, the world’s first socialist state, and triggered the general crisis of capitalism. Following World War II, several European and Asian countries split off from imperialism, choosing the socialist road of development, and the colonial system of imperialism collapsed. The world socialist system was formed, and a real possibility emerged for the forces of peace and socialism to avert worldwide armed conflicts. The forms in which contradictions between the imperialist powers are manifested have also changed. The contradictions between the imperialist countries are sharpening, and the struggle for markets and sources of raw materials and power is becoming fiercer. Japanese and West European monopolies are competing ever more successfully with American capital, including on the US home market. The sharpening contradictions between the main centres of modern capitalism—the USA, Western Europe and Japan—breed disagreement within the military-political blocs, primarily NATO, and also within integrated economic groups, first and foremost the Common Market. Contradictions are also growing between the developed capitalist and developing countries. The greater might of the international monopolies has made competition even more ruthless. The capitalist governments are making successive efforts to smooth over these contradictions and agree upon joint measures to overcome the crisis. The nature of imperialism is such, however, that 200 Emacs-File-stamp: "/home/ysverdlov/leninist.biz/en/1985/DOPE397/20071211/299.tx" everyone seeks to gain advantages at the expense of the others and to impose its will on them. Disagreement manifests itself in new forms and contradictions flare up with renewed force.