Marxism-Leninism-Maoism vs. Orthodox Marxism

Attribute	Marxism-Leninism-Maoism	Orthodox Marxism
Founders	Karl Marx, Vladimir Lenin, Mao Zedong	Karl Marx
Key Concepts	Dictatorship of the proletariat, Cultural Revolution	Class struggle, Historical materialism
Role of the State	Strong centralized state, Vanguard party	Withers away in communist society
Internationalism	Support for global revolution	Focus on national struggles
Revolutionary Strategy	Protracted people's war	Class struggle leading to revolution

Origins and Development

Marxism-Leninism-Maoism (MLM) is a political ideology that emerged as a result of the contributions of Karl Marx, Vladimir Lenin, and Mao Zedong. It combines the theories of these three revolutionary leaders to create a comprehensive framework for understanding and transforming society. Orthodox Marxism, on the other hand, refers to the original ideas put forth by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels in the 19th century. While both MLM and Orthodox Marxism share a common foundation in the works of Marx, they have evolved in different ways over time.

Class Struggle and Revolution

One of the key differences between MLM and Orthodox Marxism lies in their approach to class struggle and revolution. MLM emphasizes the importance of protracted people's war as a strategy for overthrowing the capitalist ruling class and establishing a socialist society. This concept was developed by Mao Zedong during the Chinese Revolution and has been adopted by revolutionary movements around the world. Orthodox Marxism, on the other hand, focuses more on the economic aspects of class struggle and the eventual collapse of capitalism due to its internal contradictions.

Role of the Party

Another significant difference between MLM and Orthodox Marxism is the role of the party in revolutionary struggle. In MLM, the vanguard party plays a central role in leading the masses in the fight against imperialism and capitalism. This concept was further developed by Lenin in his theory of the vanguard party as the organized expression of the working class. Orthodox Marxism, on the other hand, does not place as much emphasis on the party as the driving force of revolution, focusing instead on the spontaneous actions of the proletariat.

Internationalism and Anti-Imperialism

MLM places a strong emphasis on internationalism and anti-imperialism as essential components of the revolutionary struggle. Mao Zedong's theory of "continuous revolution" highlights the interconnectedness of global struggles against imperialism and the need for solidarity among oppressed peoples. Orthodox Marxism, on the other hand, tends to focus more on the internal contradictions of capitalism within individual countries, rather than the broader international context of imperialism and colonialism.

Cultural Revolution and Mass Line

One of the key contributions of Mao Zedong to MLM is the concept of the Cultural Revolution and the mass line. The Cultural Revolution was a period of intense political and social upheaval in China aimed at purging capitalist and revisionist elements from the Communist Party. The mass line, on the other hand, emphasizes the importance of the party staying connected to the masses and drawing inspiration from their struggles. Orthodox Marxism, while acknowledging the importance of mass movements, does not have as developed a theory of the mass line as MLM.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Marxism-Leninism-Maoism and Orthodox Marxism are two distinct political ideologies that share a common foundation in the works of Karl Marx. While Orthodox Marxism focuses more on the economic aspects of class struggle and the eventual collapse of capitalism, MLM places a greater emphasis on protracted people's war, the role of the party, internationalism, and the mass line. Both ideologies have had a significant impact on revolutionary movements around the world and continue to shape political discourse and action to this day.