A few theory questions...

[Nanatsu Yoru]

1. Apart from the agricultural worker as the proletariat and peasant revolution, what is Maoism?
2. Do Stalinists necessarily agree with the tyrannical, totalitarian way he ruled or just his ideas on mechanisation, etc?
3. How does Marxism-Leninism differ from Marxism?

And I have looked at the tendencies section, but that didn't really seem to answer my questions. Thanks!

[ContrarianLemming]

1. Apart from the agricultural worker as the proletariat and peasant revolution, what is Maoism?

Maoism is Marxist Leninism for third world/rural nations, based more around peasants then industrial workers.


2. Do Stalinists necessarily agree with the tyrannical, totalitarian way he ruled or just his ideas on mechanisation, etc?

For the most part "stalinism" is just an insult used on marxist Leninists who claim either that "Stalin was justified" "Stalin was trying to democratize Russia" "Stalin was forced to do this and that" and "Stalin didn't kill that many"

They generally deny that there was any totalitarianism, or if there was, then Stalin was fighting against it. Cranks if you ask me.


3. How does Marxism-Leninism differ from Marxism?

Marxist Leninist specifically states that for a revolution to be succesful, a vanguard party is necessary, a party which will represent the workers in state and use the state as a tool to bring about communism.
Opposed to this are libertarian Marxists, who oppose this kind of vangaurdism 9they are not necessarily opposed to all vangaurdisms).

Vanguardism is simply when an organization/party/union places itself at the centre of a movement to steer to movement in the ideological direction of this organization in question. So not all vangaurds are parties, the FAI (anarchist) for example was a vangaurd organization, but it wasn't a party and didn't take part in parliment.

[Zanthorus]

Marxist Leninist specifically states that for a revolution to be succesful, a vanguard party is necessary, a party which will represent the workers in state and use the state as a tool to bring about communism.

I suppose that was why Lenin constantly put stress on the need to smash the bourgeois state and replace it with the rule of the Soviet councils, or justified the running of candidates to parliament only on the grounds that it would allow them to denounce parliamentarianism from within.

[ContrarianLemming]

I suppose that was why Lenin constantly put stress on the need to smash the bourgeois state and replace it with the rule of the Soviet councils, or justified the running of candidates to parliament only on the grounds that it would allow them to denounce parliamentarianism from within.

I stated what Leninism was, not what Lenin did in practice, a perversion of his own theory if i ever saw it.

[Imposter Marxist]

I'd read "Another Look at Stalin" By Ludo Martens, and then read "Let History Judge" by Roy Medvedev, these two books, both written by self proclaimed "Leninists", provide opposite views of the Soviet Leaders role in history.

[Zanthorus]

I stated what Leninism was, not what Lenin did in practice, a perversion of his own theory if i ever saw it.

Not quite sure what you're saying here.

If you're saying that "Leninism" as understood by the Stalin worshippers is a perversion of Lenin's own ideas then I would tend to agree, however on this particular issue I am fairly confident that they would also follow Lenin in believing parliamentarianism to be merely a convenient tactic and not a fundamental strategic orientation to be pursued at all costs and without regard to the underlying social context. I am also fairly confident that they are with Lenin on the necessity of "smashing" the bourgeois state apparatus.

If you are saying that Lenin's own practice was in contradiction with the theoretical arguments and underpinnings put forward in his writings then I am fairly confident that you haven't read much Lenin. Or if you have then you haven't understood it properly.

[Raúl Duke]

1. Apart from the agricultural worker as the proletariat and peasant revolution, what is Maoism?Maoism has a strong focus on anti-imperialism and as an ideology for the 3rd world it is strongly national liberationist. It also includes some new features such as "New Democracy," "People's War," etc.

[ContrarianLemming]

If you are saying that Lenin's own practice was in contradiction with the theoretical arguments and underpinnings put forward in his writings then I am fairly confident that you haven't read much Lenin. Or if you have then you haven't understood it properly.

this.
The Soviet Union lacked democratic centralism.
Don't condecend to me.

[Zanthorus]

The Soviet Union lacked democratic centralism.

So? Democratic Centralism is supposed to be a principle for the organisation of the party not the state.

[ContrarianLemming]

So? Democratic Centralism is supposed to be a principle for the organisation of the party not the state.


Democratic Centralism being a componant of Leninism, democratic centralism was not in practice so Leninism was not in practice, as Leninism must be democratic.