The concept of the national-democratic state tried to theorize how a state could

develop socialism by bypassing the capitalist mode of production.[59] While the

theory of non-capitalist development was first articulated by Vladimir Lenin, the
novelty of this concept was applying it to the progressive elements of the national
liberation movements in the Third World.[59] The term national-democratic state was
introduced shortly after the death of Stalin, who believed colonies to be mere
lackeys of Western imperialism and that the socialist movement few prospects there.
[59]

The countries in which the national liberations movements took power and which
instituted an anti-imperialist foreign policy and sought to construct a form of
socialism were considered as national-democratic states by Marxist�Leninists.[59]
An example of a national-democratic state is Egypt under Gamal Abdel Nasser which
was committed to constructing Arab socialism.[60] With the exception of Cuba, none
of these states managed to develop socialism.[60] According to scholar Sylvia
Woodby Edington, this might explain why the concept of the national-democratic
state "never received full theoretical elaboration as a political
system."[ However, one feature was clearly defined, namely that these states did
not need to be led by a Marxist�Leninist party.