Marxism-Leninism-Maoism vs. Postleftism

Attribute	Marxism-Leninism-Maoism	Postleftism
Founder	Karl Marx, Vladimir Lenin, Mao Zedong	Various thinkers and activists
Key Ideas	Class struggle, socialism, dictatorship of the proletariat	Critique of leftism, anti-politics, anti-ideology
Revolutionary Strategy	Proletarian revolution, vanguard party	Informal, decentralized actions
Role of the State	Transitional state towards communism	Opposition to all forms of authority
Internationalism	Support for global socialist revolution	Focus on local and individual autonomy

Overview

Marxism-Leninism-Maoism (MLM) and Postleftism are two distinct political ideologies that have emerged within the broader spectrum of leftist thought. While both ideologies share a critique of capitalism and a desire for social change, they differ in their approaches to achieving these goals and their views on the role of the state.

Key Principles

MLM is a revolutionary socialist ideology that builds upon the ideas of Karl Marx, Vladimir Lenin, and Mao Zedong. It emphasizes the need for a vanguard party to lead the working class in overthrowing capitalism and establishing a socialist state. MLM also stresses the importance of cultural revolution and mass mobilization to combat revisionism and maintain the purity of the socialist project.

On the other hand, Postleftism is a more decentralized and anti-authoritarian form of anarchism that rejects traditional leftist institutions and practices. Postleftists critique the role of the state and organized political parties in perpetuating hierarchy and oppression. They advocate for a more individualistic and spontaneous approach to social change, focusing on personal autonomy and direct action.

Views on the State

One of the key differences between MLM and Postleftism is their views on the state. MLM sees the state as a tool for the working class to wield power and suppress the bourgeoisie. The vanguard party is seen as necessary to guide the revolution and protect the gains of socialism from counter-revolutionary forces.

Postleftists, on the other hand, view the state as inherently oppressive and argue that any attempt to seize state power will ultimately lead to the reproduction of hierarchy and domination. They advocate for the abolition of the state and the creation of non-hierarchical forms of organization based on voluntary association and mutual aid.

Approaches to Social Change

MLM emphasizes the importance of building a mass movement of the working class to challenge capitalism and imperialism. It sees the vanguard party as the vehicle for organizing and mobilizing the masses to achieve revolutionary change. MLM also stresses the need for a cultural revolution to combat bourgeois ideology and promote socialist values.

Postleftism, on the other hand, rejects the idea of a vanguard party and instead focuses on individual and small-group actions to challenge the status quo. Postleftists advocate for a more spontaneous and decentralized approach to social change, emphasizing direct action, temporary autonomous zones, and insurrectionary tactics.

Conclusion

While Marxism-Leninism-Maoism and Postleftism both share a commitment to challenging capitalism and creating a more just and equitable society, they differ in their approaches to achieving these goals. MLM advocates for a vanguard party and a centralized state to lead the working class in revolution, while Postleftism rejects traditional leftist institutions and emphasizes individual autonomy and direct action. Both ideologies offer unique perspectives on the struggle for social change and continue to influence leftist thought and activism today.