Leftism
Leftism is a broad grouping of ideological tendencies which seek to alter and advance past the given socio-economic and political status quo in favor of a more egalitarian arrangement. In a modern context, leftist politics centers around the abolition of capitalism in favor of socialism and communism. Modern leftists also oppose the ideological forces in support of capitalism, including liberalism and fascism.
Etymology
The terms left-wing and leftism are derived from the French Revolution, when the more progressive, egalitarian political factions were seated on the left-side of the assembly whereas the reactionary factions sat on the right-wing.[1]
Tendencies
Marxism
Marxism, or scientific socialism, is one of the foremost left-wing tendencies. It was first developed by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels in the 19th century. The component parts of Marxism are British political economy, French utopian socialism, and German dialectical philosophy. Since its foundations, Marxism has been developed by various theorists into new forms, including Leninism and Maoism.[2]
Leninism
Leninism, known fully as Marxism–Leninism, is the development of Marxist principles into the age of imperialism and socialist revolution. Leninism expands on Marxist theory with new concepts such as vanguardism, an analysis of imperialism as the final stage of capitalism, and a more detailed understanding of the state as an organ of class oppression.
Maoism
Maoism, known in full as Marxism–Leninism–Maoism, is a development of Marxism–Leninism which takes the theory of Mao Zedong and other theorists and develops it into a universal revolutionary framework. Maoism was synthesized by Chairman Gonzalo in the late 20th century and introduces many new concepts to Marxist theory, including bureaucrat capitalism, the centrality of the law of contradiction, protracted people's war, and so forth.
See also
References
- ↑ "left-wing" Wiktionary
- ↑ Vladimir Lenin (1913). The Three Sources and Three Component Parts of Marxism.