From Marxism-Leninism to Maoism

[G4b3n]

I am currently taking a Modern China course and have been given a very liberal range of possible topics for a research paper. I am looking to frame the shift of Marxism-Leninism into Maoism. However, I am a bit fuzzy on how Mao interpreted Lenin and justified his shift away from traditional Marxist conceptions of revolutionary organization. I am also seeking to understand the differences (if there are any of significance) between the democratic centralism of Mao and that of Lenin.

If you would like to chime in with your own analysis or recommend me easily accessible works that will expound on these topics it would be greatly appreciated.

[hashem]

Mao didn't "shift" away from anything. his ideas are the evolution of Marxism, just as Lenin's ideas were evolution of 19th century Marxism. there is no difference in conception of democratic centralism between Mao and Lennin either.

[G4b3n]

Mao didn't "shift" away from anything. his ideas are the evolution of Marxism, just as Lenin's ideas were evolution of 19th century Marxism. there is no difference in conception of democratic centralism between Mao and Lennin either.

If you read Marx and then you read Mao, you are going to see very clear contradictions. I am looking for something more detailed than the typical Maoist narrative of "well material conditions justified it, so it is the evolution of Marxism".

Also, I am of the school that views Leninism as a right wing deviation of Marxism, as it was so understood at the time, and not an evolution by hardly any means.

[Illegalitarian]

Well if you're trying to delve into the philosophical transition from Marxist-Leninism into Marxist-Leninist-Maoism you're going to have to tackle the subject from the point of view of someone viewing this as the logical continuation of the Marxist tradition, as Mao did.


Mao saw Leninism as the logical continuation of Marxist thought and saw Stalin's work as the continuation of Leninism after Lenin's death.

He was sharply critical of what he saw as Stalin's deviation from Leninism, though, and blamed the purges and other excesses under Stalin on this deviation.

His biggest deviation from Marxism was based loosely on Trotsky's idea of permanent revolution, the idea that a society under control of socialist forces could control the shift from feudalism into bourgeois democracy and guide it right into communism with no issues.

Look into Mao's concept of New Democracy to see how he viewed Democratic Centralism. His notion of it was somewhat close to the Stalinist notion of a Popular Front, and some might even call it class collaborationism, but Mao certainly did not see it this way.

This is all extremely simplified mind you but it should give you a good base to work from

[Civis]

Imperialism and revolution by Enver Hoxha is a good read on Mao's deviation from Marxist-Leninism.

I would post a link, but I don't have a high enough post count.

[David Warner]

Mao integrated the scientific truth of Marxism-Leninism with China's material conditions. You might want to read his writings "On New Democracy" and "On The People's Democratic Dictatorship" among other works.