Maoism
Maoism, known by its adherents as Marxism–Leninism–Maoism,[a] is atendency which upholds the theoretical developments of Chinese leader Mao Zedong as a new stage in Marxist thought. Maoism differs from Mao Zedong Thought in that its followers regard its theory as holding a universally-applicable (or near-universal) character as opposed to its progenitor, which was largely developed to account for the conditions of agrarian and semi-feudal countries as China was in the mid-20th century.
Maoism carries over the deviations of Mao Zedong into its doctrine, which maintains his theories such as protracted people's war, New Democracy, etc. Maoism as a modern tendency was partially founded by Abimael Guzmán, leader of the Shining Path[b] in Peru, whom many Maoists regard as being a foundational theorist of Marxism alongside Mao Zedong.[1]
Ideology
Maoism as a qualitative development
The essential justification for Maoist theory lies in its alleged role as a third and higher stage of Marxism; a creative development of it whose contributions are suitable to all the peoples of the world. Maoists posit that through the “masterful” theoretical advancements of Mao Zedong and Abimael Guzmán, Marxism underwent a great qualitative leap from both Marxism and Leninism, spawning a universalized augmentation of Mao Zedong Thought (regarded by the Chinese revisionists as a “creative application” of Marxism–Leninism to exclusively Chinese peculiarities) known as “Marxism–Leninism–Maoism”.[2]
New Democracy
As with Mao Zedong Thought, Maoism rejects the Marxist conception of the dictatorship of the proletariat and instead upholds "New Democracy" — understood by Maoists to be the rule of the proletariat in alliance with the peasantry, petite-bourgeoisie, and national bourgeoisie.[3]
Cultural revolution
Maoism holds that the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution in China is universally applicable and must be practiced to maintain and strengthen the workers' state. Maoism believe that a socialist state must have multiple cultural revolutions during its existence to excise bourgeois elements from the party.[3]
See also
References
- ↑ "Maoist Group, China: Chairman Gonzalo is immortal in the flames of revolution!" (September 30, 2021). ci-ic.org. Retrieved March 4, 2025.
- ↑ "Historical News of the successful Holding of the Unified Maoist International Conference: the International Communist League was founded!" (December 26, 2022). ci-ic.org. Retrieved April 1, 2025.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Interview with Chairman Gonzalo (1988). Abimael Guzmán.
“The problem of revolutionary violence is an issue that is more and more being put on the table for discussion, and therefore we communists and revolutionaries must reaffirm our principles. The problem of revolutionary violence is how to actually carry it out with people's war. The way we see this question is that when Chairman Mao Tsetung established the theory of people's war and put it into practice, he provided the proletariat with its military line, with a military theory and practice that is universally valid and therefore applicable everywhere in accordance with the concrete conditions.”