Need guidance-Stalin,Mao,revolution,philosophy

[Kamerat Voldstad]

Yo, friends and comrades (sounds kind of silly in this pathetic context)

I have already read much here and there, but I need some guidance from the old, experienced and well read:

1. What should I read by Stalin and Mao to understand Stalinism and Maoism and to gain from their wisdom?
2. Can someone help me define Stalinism and Maoism?
3. Which writers should I turn to to understand our situation to day as revolutionaries and marxists?
4. Marxism and philosophy?

[anomaly]

I am neither old, nor very experienced, nor very well read, but I have a few simple suggestions.

First, you should not read any Stalin. It contains no wisdom. Mao was essentially an expert in guerrilla warfare, so if you're going to read Mao, read his pamphlet on guerrilla warfare. Other than that, Mao has no other wisdom to offer.

Both Maoism and Stalinism are despotic methods of transitioning from feudalism to modern capitalism. I, like some others on this board, argue that there are other ways of making the transition, other than just following 'our great leader', but this is, of course, debatable.

For your third question, I think this very website is a very good way of understanding "our situation to day as revolutionaries and marxists." So, if I were you, I'd just peruse through some forums and understand what is being said.

Marxism and philosophy? Here's philosophy from marxists.org: Marxist Philosophy (http://www.marxists.org/subject/philosophy/index.htm)

[Kamerat Voldstad]

Originally posted by [email protected] 5 2006, 07:58 PM
First, you should not read any Stalin. It contains no wisdom. Mao was essentially an expert in guerrilla warfare, so if you're going to read Mao, read his pamphlet on guerrilla warfare. Other than that, Mao has no other wisdom to offer.

Both Maoism and Stalinism are despotic methods of transitioning from feudalism to modern capitalism. I, like some others on this board, argue that there are other ways of making the transition, other than just following 'our great leader', but this is, of course, debatable.
I disagree (though I wasn't planning a discussion! :) ). The historical analyses and philosophical expositions of these two are brilliant and well written. And to understand what it the right way, one should look at examples of things that went wrong as well as things that went right. And we should see, and make good use of history, what in thier theories may lead to oppression, and what is still possible to salvage as revolutionary wisdom.

I understand the importance of democratization as the key principle of Socialism because I know the dangers of other methods.

[viva le revolution]

Marxism and the national question by Stalin
Foundations of Leninism by Stalin.
Problems of Leninism by Stalin.
Leninism or Trotskyism by Stalin.
Leninism or TRotskyism by Harpal Brar.
the October revolution and the tactics of the russian communists by Stalin.
Our Disagreements by Stalin.
Dialectical and historical materialism by Stalin.
Marxism and the problem of linguistics by Stalin.
Economic problems of socialism in the USSR by Stalin.


http://marxists.org/reference/archive/stalin/index.htm


Of comrade Mao,
Quotations of chairman Mao TseTung aka. little red book.
Guerrilla warfare by mao tsetung.
on protracted war by maotsetung.
on correcting incorrect ideas within the party by Mao Tsetung.
On contradiction by MaoZedong.
Analysis of the Classes in cHinese society by Mao zedong.
Stalin, friend of the chinese people by Mao Zedong.
The Chinese revolution and the chinese communist party by Mao Zedong.
Dialectical Materialism by Mao Zedong.
Economic and ginancial problems in the anti-japanese war by Mao zedong.
For a cpmprehensive first hand account of the struggle of the Red army in China: Red star over China by Edgar Snow.

http://marxists.org/reference/archive/mao/index.htm

[Kamerat Voldstad]

Thank you, comrade, I truly appreciate it!