Leninism/Marxism-Leninism

[Red Menace]

I know this topic has been discussed to death, but I cannot find the topic. But what are the differences between Leninism and Marxism-Leninism. Whenever I discuss this subject with fellow comrades, they usually speak of 'Leninism' in a negative connotation.

[apathy maybe]

Marxist Leninism, why do they need the 'Marxist'? (http://www.revleft.com/index.php?showtopic=58220)
Difference between Marxist-Leninist and Leninist (http://www.revleft.com/index.php?showtopic=65556)
Leninist theory without Leninism? (http://www.revleft.com/index.php?showtopic=64272)
What is Marxist-Leninism (MLs only...) (http://www.revleft.com/index.php?showtopic=63484)
Marxism vs Leninism (http://www.revleft.com/index.php?showtopic=62034)
Marxist-Leninism vs Leninism (http://www.revleft.com/index.php?showtopic=56406)

As far as I can tell from quickly reading those threads, it depends on who you ask... Some say there is no difference between Marxist-Leninism and Leninism, some say that one term is a pejorative and the other not... and so on.

Personally, I think they are both pejoratives :P, but I'm a nasty anarchist. The difference between them? It only matters to people who care about pre-1930 European "revolutionary" politics. If you are one of them, call yourself whatever you want, but don't get upset if people call you the other.

[Djehuti]

Marxism-Leninism is the ideology of Stalin. You can be a marxist and a leninist without being a marxist-leninist, trotskyists for example are marxists and leninists but not marxist-leninists.

However, the term "leninism" was coined by the menshevik Martov and "marxism-leninism" by Zinovjev (and was also used by Trotsky for a short while).

I would also say that "leninism" is not the same as Lenins thoughts. I'd rather say that leninism is an ideologization of av Marx, Engels and Lenins (amongst others) thought in a system with certain dogmas about "communist" tactics and and tasks for the revolutionary (pseudo)party. The most important of these is usually:
a) Support to "national liberation movements",
b) The partipication of communists in parlamentary elections,
c) Work within the unions, and
d) Support of anti-fascism (proletarian support/submission before bourgeoisie democratic movements in their struggle against fascist/dictatorial bourgeoisie movements).

The supporters of the leninist ideology often also understands pro-capitalist states such as stalinist Russia, maoist China or juchist North Korea as in some or many ways "progressive" and for the proletarians worth to defend.

I would say that I like some of Lenins thoughts and writings, but that I am no leninist.

[Dimentio]

Marx asserted that monopoly capitalism was the final stage of capitalism, whereas Lenin instead took up imperialism as the fina stage of capitalism in his theoretical framework.

[KC]

That doesn't differentiate the two at all. Capitalism developed; Lenin developed his theories of imperialism based on a Marxist analysis.

[Dimentio]

Originally posted by Zampanò@July 18, 2007 02:05 pm
That doesn't differentiate the two at all. Capitalism developed; Lenin developed his theories of imperialism based on a Marxist analysis.
The early Marx was a western supremacist and pro-imperialist (while Engels was more anti-imperialist) while the late Marx was more sympathetic to non-western cultures.