The aim of this blog entry is to raise some questions that have come up in the course of researching and investigating Marxism-Leninism-Maoism (Mao Tse-Tung Thought) versus contemporary Marxist-Leninist Thought.
My ignorance on the Chinese Revolution, the Great Leap Forward, the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution and the theory of Mao Tse-Tung Thought has been my starting points - points that need to be addressed if any formulation of opinion is to follow.
A reading of Comrade Raven’s excellent blog on the need for a new Communist International on the basis of Marxism-Leninism, and the subsequent comments that followed, I realized that I was sleeping on the various trends and movements that is currently taking form and shape in the world. The issue of a new Internationale is a vital and critical issue as it presents before the Communists overcoming the split in the International Communist Movement and taking up the task of uniting and organizing the communists and the progressive forces, along with the main and central task of uniting and organizing the working class and peoples of all countries. How can this be done without an inkling of the various movements taking place now? Of course there are many trends and many movements taking place now, remniscient of the period of the First International. Marxism-Leninism-Maoism, or rather Mao Tse-Tung Thought is only part of that. In any case, I’ve chosen to become more acquainted with Maoism.
After reading Comrade Raven’s “The Internationale Shall be the Human Race” I began researching a bit on the Revolutionary Internationalist Movement (RIM). Along with finding out more about RIM and its role, I also started to read some writings of Mao Tse-Tung, although historical reference and context is still largely missing. In addition I’ve been trying to find more literature by the Revolutionary Communist Party, USA (RCP), whose theoretical ideology is Marxism-Leninism-Maoism in the U.S.
For quite awhile I have been following and reading RCP’s “Revolution” the tabloid-sized publication that I receive from having attended numerous anti-war demonstrations. I also receive their updates online. I have somewhat of mixed feelings on their views. I do look forward to reading what they have to say - and the stances they take regarding the war and imperialism is a very positive stand. I appreciate the stands that they take on war, imperialism, the need for socialism and communism. They have an eloquent and simple way of getting their view and points across which I find to be extremely helpful. I am not always in agreement with the conclusions they draw however. With the realization of the need for a new International and a new society based on modern definitions, I find it important and necessary for me to investigate more into Mao Tse-Tung Thought, not only from the works of Mao, Bob Avakian and the RCP, but also from the works of Enver Hoxha, Hardial Bains and the Communist Party of Canada (Marxist-Leninist).
To be continued…
May 15, 2007 at 6:00 am
You flatter me, Soil ride.
I’ll say this; as a modern day Hoxhaist, I do not totally reject Mao Tse-Tung. Obviously, if you read “Revolution and Imperialism” Hoxha denounces everyone other than the Labour party of Albania and it’s fraternal parties as revisionist. Now, at the time this was the correct, principled stand to take, but in this day and age, after the fall of Albania and most of the socialist camp, things are a little more complicated…
I used to be a Maoist; most of my Comradess did. Better believe, I have my little red book, and I used to carry it on me everywhere. I have a poster of Mao on my wall to this day, and several of his works on my bookshelf. I can recognize the wisdom of many of Maos tactics, and I can praise him for taking a revolutionary stance in a time of widespread revisionism, and leading the Chinese masses to Victory. I do not even completely accept the line of CPC-ML/ Enver Hoxha that Mao was not a Marxist-Leninist. Still, by reading “Imperialism and Revolution”, Enver Hoxha points out in several chapters the flaws of the Chinese leadership, but also Mao himself, who allied himself with the USA and western Europe against Soviet social-imperialism, spreading the dangerous notion that American imperialism had been “tamed”. Mao financially and diplomatically supported many notorious commie killers, from Mobutu sese Seko in Zaire (Congo), to Augusto Pinochet in Chile. Also, his negation of the proletariat as the class for change, in favour of the peasantry, and his bullshit “theory of three worlds” were anti-Leninist and counter-revolutionary.
you can probably find Hoxhas works online. Me, I’m lucky enough to have a printed version. I’ll try to find you a link…
May 16, 2007 at 12:46 am
Hey there Comrade Ravenblade,
Well believe it or not, the question of a new Internationale has been brewing in my head for some time now and because you brought it up I found it significant in my opinion.
I guess you could say I never considered myself a Maoist, although I hold Mao to be a great revolutionary and who led the Chinese people to victory in many of their historic campaigns. Other than that, my knowledge of Mao and the theory of Mao Tse-Tung Thought was very limited. My standpoint on Mao, without so much reading [besides the little Red Book and his Military Writings] and researching his thoughts and writings, is from Hoxha. “Imperialism and Revolution” was my first real look at Maoism through analytical and critical lense. That is to say, I identified with Hoxha on Mao, without having thoroughly researched Mao myself. Do you know what I mean?
Any case that’s one of the reasons why I posted this. I’m working on a follow up to this post with another one on my conversation with an RCP member I had when I was at the May Day Demonstration in NYC.
If you can find an webpage with Hoxha’s “Imperialism and Revolution” it would be appreciated, so then other readers can research these things for themselves to if they need to.
Always glad to hear from you!
May 17, 2007 at 4:55 am
Most of the online versions of “Imperialism and Revolution” are dog shit.
I was translating a better version, but I lost it when my computer crashed.
Anyways, here is a version of “Imperialism and Revolution” by Enver Hoxha, available Via Marxist International Archive.
http://www.marxists.org/reference/archive/hoxha/works/imp_rev/toc.htm
I understand your position on Mao. Between Maoists and Hoxhaists, there has been a general air of reconciliation lately. I was looking at a thread on “It’s right to Rebel” forum, and they were arguing over wether or not Hoxhaists are a progressive influence in modern Albania. By the same token, many of the fraternal parties of the Labour party of Albania (like USMLO and CPC-ML,)have made their peace with Mao. Especially in this world, in the struggle against capitalism, let alone social-democratic reformism and even Kruschevite/Trotskyist revisionism, there really is no place for the continuation of the Sino-Albanian split hostilities.
I have made my peace with Mao, and I can admire his accomplishments and recognize him as great leader, even defending him against attackers. On the flipside, I have not crossed over to the Maoist side of the fence, because his theoretical and practical errors are too great to ignore.
May 18, 2007 at 10:22 pm
RavenBlade wrote:
“…there really is no place for the continuation of the Sino-Albanian split hostilities.”
I agree completely with this, although my investigation into these matters are to satisfy both my curiosity and to address my own ignorance on the issue.
Thanks for posting the link - greatly appreciated!
Yours for the revolution,
SR
June 18, 2007 at 12:32 am
I think Maoists and Hoxhaites have a lot to work on together. There is certainly valid criticisms for both sides, and we need to have a full understanding of the development of Socialism in both Albania and China. When I USE to be in the RCYB I once defended Enver Hoxha and the PLA, and actually said the criticisms of Comrade Hoxha against PRC’s foriegn policy was generally correct. I was made fun of for this position light heartedly.
While I am still a Maoist, I think the line of Bob Avakian and RCP is dangerously revisionist and Idealist. Their rejection of work with the proletariat and their promotion of the cult of personality around Avakian is certainly disgusting.
I am adding a link to this blog on my site…in solidarity revolutionary brother.
July 2, 2007 at 8:34 am
i am a chinese ,i am young,but i love chairman mao very much,if you want to understand the maoist ,you must learn the history of china,to analysis maoist under the situation which in history,any theory not right for ever,it must develop all time,and change with the situation.
February 17, 2008 at 2:07 am
I am interested to your venture about forming a communist international. But todays situation is not favourable to build that. But it would be possible to exchange about the basis of an international. I am a marxist leninist and believe that mao thought is the development of marxism leninism. But we have to develop more this theory on the basis of contemporary situation. That is very much neglected in world proletarian or communist movement. Not only now but also from the last days of comrade mao. On some basic question comrade mao couldn’t take correct position. Those are about the condition of Imperialism, Role of the proletariat of third world country and the course of party building etc. We have to develop and in some cases rectify the previous position which supposed to based on marxist leninist and mao thought. Please you write detailed thinking of yours.
Alik