Marxism-Leninism vs. Marxism-Leninism-Maoism

Attribute	Marxism-Leninism	Marxism-Leninism-Maoism
Founders	Karl Marx, Vladimir Lenin	Karl Marx, Vladimir Lenin, Mao Zedong
Key Ideology	Dictatorship of the Proletariat	Cultural Revolution
Role of the Party	Vanguard Party	Vanguard Party with Mass Line
Internationalism	Support for international revolution	Support for international revolution with emphasis on Third World countries
Class Struggle	Focus on proletariat vs bourgeoisie	Emphasis on continuous class struggle and cultural revolution

Origins and Development

Marxism-Leninism is a political ideology that was developed by Vladimir Lenin, building upon the ideas of Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels. Leninism emerged as a response to the specific conditions of Russia in the early 20th century, advocating for a vanguard party to lead the proletariat in a revolution against the bourgeoisie. The key principles of Marxism-Leninism include the dictatorship of the proletariat, socialist construction, and the importance of a centralized party structure.

Marxism-Leninism-Maoism, on the other hand, further developed Leninist theory by incorporating the contributions of Mao Zedong. Maoism emerged in China during the mid-20th century and emphasized the role of peasants in the revolutionary struggle, as well as the concept of continuous revolution under proletarian leadership. Maoism also introduced the idea of cultural revolution as a means of combating revisionism within the party.

Class Struggle and Revolution

Both Marxism-Leninism and Marxism-Leninism-Maoism view class struggle as the driving force of history, with the proletariat ultimately overthrowing the bourgeoisie to establish a socialist society. However, Marxism-Leninism places a greater emphasis on the role of the vanguard party in leading the revolution and guiding the construction of socialism. Lenin believed that the party should be a disciplined and centralized organization that could effectively mobilize the masses.

In contrast, Marxism-Leninism-Maoism emphasizes the importance of mass mobilization and the active participation of the peasantry in the revolutionary process. Mao Zedong's theory of protracted people's war, which involved guerrilla warfare and rural insurrection, was a key component of Maoist strategy. Maoism also stresses the need for continuous revolution to prevent the emergence of a new bourgeoisie within the party.

Internationalism and Anti-Imperialism

Both Marxism-Leninism and Marxism-Leninism-Maoism advocate for international solidarity among the working class and support for anti-imperialist struggles around the world. Lenin famously declared that "imperialism is the highest stage of capitalism," and called for the oppressed nations to unite against their colonial oppressors. Marxism-Leninism also promoted the idea of a world socialist revolution that would ultimately lead to the establishment of a classless society.

Maoism further developed this internationalist perspective by emphasizing the importance of supporting national liberation movements in the Global South. Mao Zedong's theory of "leaning to one side" called for aligning with the oppressed nations in their struggle against imperialism. Maoist parties around the world have historically been involved in supporting anti-colonial struggles and providing material aid to revolutionary movements.

Party Structure and Ideological Purity

One of the key differences between Marxism-Leninism and Marxism-Leninism-Maoism lies in their approach to party structure and ideological purity. Marxism-Leninism places a strong emphasis on party discipline and centralization, with the vanguard party acting as the leading force in society. Lenin believed that the party should be a vanguard of the proletariat, guiding the masses towards revolution and socialism.

Marxism-Leninism-Maoism, on the other hand, places a greater emphasis on the need for ideological struggle within the party to combat revisionism and maintain revolutionary purity. Mao Zedong's concept of "two-line struggle" emphasized the importance of ideological debate and criticism within the party to prevent the emergence of a new bourgeoisie. Maoists argue that continuous revolution is necessary to prevent the party from becoming detached from the masses.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Marxism-Leninism and Marxism-Leninism-Maoism are both revolutionary ideologies that seek to overthrow capitalism and establish socialism. While Marxism-Leninism emphasizes the role of the vanguard party and centralized leadership, Marxism-Leninism-Maoism places a greater emphasis on mass mobilization, continuous revolution, and ideological purity. Both ideologies have had a significant impact on revolutionary movements around the world and continue to influence leftist politics to this day.