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The central point of contention between Vladimir Lenin and Eduard Bernstein revolved around the fundamental nature of capitalism and the strategy for achieving socialism. Bernstein, a proponent of evolutionary socialism (also known as revisionism), argued that capitalism was evolving and becoming more equitable. He posited that through gradual reforms, such as labor legislation and expanded suffrage, workers could achieve socialism peacefully within the existing capitalist framework. He believed that class conflict was diminishing and that the need for a revolutionary overthrow of the state was becoming obsolete.

Lenin, adhering to orthodox Marxism, vehemently opposed this revisionist view. He maintained that capitalism was inherently exploitative and prone to crises. He argued that reforms, while potentially beneficial to workers in the short term, could not fundamentally alter the exploitative nature of the system. Moreover, he asserted that the state, even in democratic societies, was ultimately an instrument of class rule, serving the interests of the bourgeoisie. Therefore, peaceful, gradual change was an illusion; a revolutionary seizure of power by the proletariat was essential for establishing a socialist society. This disagreement highlighted the conflicting interpretations of Marxist theory and the divergent paths envisioned for achieving a socialist future.

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