Nikolai Lenin, also known as Vladimir Lenin, was a Russian revolutionary and politician who played a pivotal role in the establishment of the Soviet Union. Synonyms for his name include the father of the Soviet Union, the Bolshevik leader, and the founder of communism. Lenin's contributions to Marxism and his writings on socialist theory paved the way for the formation of Soviet-style communism. His name is often used synonymously with the word communist. Lenin is remembered for his impact on the 20th-century political landscape and his contribution to the development of socialist and communist ideologies.