Maoism
Maoism, known by its adherents as Marxism–Leninism–Maoism,[a][b] is a revisionist tendency which upholds the supposed 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 tendency of modern revisionism was partially founded by Abimael Guzmán, leader of the Shining Path[c] 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]
This is despite the fact that, firstly, Mao's contributions to Marxism were in fact departures from it rather than developments, and secondly, the era which gave rise to Leninism (imperialism and socialist revolution) persists into the present, resulting in there being no material basis or need for a higher stage of Marxism.
Protracted people's war
The Maoists demand a uniform method of revolution across all countries known as “protracted people’s war”, regardless of the material circumstances. In this sense, Maoists seek a repetition of the bourgeois revolution led by Mao, in which the sole leadership of the proletariat was curtailed in favor of shared role with the large peasantry and national bourgeoisie through the system of "New Democracy".[3]
See also
- Mao Zedong Thought
- Neo-revisionism
- International Communist League (Maoist)
- Revolutionary Internationalist Movement
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.
- ↑ 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.”
Notes
- ↑ Abbreviated as MLM.
- ↑ The term "Marxism–Leninism–Maoism" is erroneous; Maoism is neither a development Leninist nor Marxist, but a deviation form them. This is in contrast to Marxism–Leninism, in which Leninism represents a valid theoretical leap from classical Marxism. Therefore, this article will refer to this tendency as Maoism from now on.
- ↑ Known by its supporters as the "Communist Party of Peru".