Leninists are followers of the political theories and practices developed by Vladimir Lenin, a key figure in the Russian Revolution of 1917. They advocate for a revolutionary approach to socialism, emphasizing the need for a vanguard party to lead the working class in overthrowing capitalism and establishing a dictatorship of the proletariat. Leninists believe in the importance of a centralized party structure to maintain discipline and direction in the revolutionary movement. The ideology of Leninism builds upon the ideas of Karl Marx but adapts them to the conditions of early 20th-century Russia. Leninists support the idea of a planned economy and the nationalization of key industries, aiming to create a classless society. This approach has influenced various communist movements and governments around the world, including those in China and Cuba.