ABSTRACT
Capitalism is commodity production at the highest stage of development, when labour power itself becomes a commodity. Imperialism emerged as the development and direct continuation of the fundamental attributes of capitalism in general. The struggle of world imperialism became more acute. The tribute levied by finance capital on the most profitable colonial and overseas enterprises is increasing. The growth of internal exchange, and particularly of international exchange, is the characteristic distinguishing feature of capitalism. The epoch of modern capitalism shows us that certain relations are established between capitalist alliances, based on the economic division of the world; while parallel with this fact and in connection with it, certain relations are established between political alliances, between states, on the basis of the territorial division of the world, of the struggle for colonies, of the "struggle for economic territory." The development of railways has been more rapid in the colonies and in the independent (and semi-dependent) states of Asia and America.
