Marxism, Leninism, Stalinism, Moaism, Castroism - what is th

[WUOrevolt]

What is the difference between Marxism, Leninism, Stalinism, Castroism, and Maoism. Plese help im really confused.

[CubanFox]

As I understand it, Maoism is Leninism applied to countries with huge numbers of peasants.

But since you don't know what Leninism is, that didn't help much. Wait for Redstar2k to get here. He'll write a fucking novel on it. :)

[Kez]

if u want bullshit on leninism ask redstar the bitter old man...

http://www.marxist.com/Theory/what_is_marxism.html

here is article on what marxism is, detailed, but u will be fuckin Ace on it if u read it.

[Pete]

Leninism involves the vangaurd and the dictatorship of the proletariat.

Stalinism is the logical advancement of Leninism to suit war and peace.

Castroism is what Castro is doing.

[Sensitive]

Ask the Stalinists what Stalinism is, but don't ask them about Trotskyism...

Ask the Maoists what Maoism is, but don't ask them about Trotskyism...

Ask the Trotskyists what Trotskyism is, but don't ask them about Stalinism...

Ask the Leninists what Leninism is, but don't ask them about Redstar2000 (or vise versa)...

Anyway, my point is that each of these groups will tell you what their views are. That is fine. BUT they will also tell you why all the other views are wrong, which is well, useless. You should decide, on your own which, you think is the best.

[commie kg]

I agree with sensitive, also do a search through the forums on those topics.

[synthesis]

They all mean different things when compared to each other.

Marxism when compared to Leninism is the belief that the entire proletariat should rise against the capitalists as opposed to the belief that a small, elite vanguard should fight their battles for them. Respectively.

Stalinism when compared to Trotskyism is the belief that the communist revolution should be established in one country and then spread, as opposed to the belief that the entire international proletariat should rise simultaneously. Respectively.

Stalinism when compared to Maoism is the belief that a nation should achieve a classless society through rapid industrialization as opposed to rapid agriculturization. Respectively.

I could go on like this for awhile. Basically...

They're all pretty much branches of each other, each comprising elements of the previous branch while adding at least one element which it is known for.

Marxism spawned Leninism, which spawned Stalinism and Trotskyism, the former of which spawned Maoism and presumably Castroism, although I'm not quite sure what that is.

Socialism has a lot of different branches. I advise you to check out the glossary at http://www.marxists.orgmarxists.org[/url].

(Edited by DyerMaker at 8:06 am on June 18, 2003)

[The Feral Underclass]

They're all pretty much branches of each other, each comprising elements of the previous branch while adding at least one element which it is known for.

What are these other elements that make them so different?

[Vinny Rafarino]

You forgot to include the passive liberal-left. Who knows where they stem from.

[Dick Wolf]

marxism- a philosophy that criticized capitalism and provided a really vague outline for leftist movements.

leninism- militant marxist ideology modified to fit the class demographics of revolutionary russia.

stalinism- perversion of marxist-leninism that gives the government coercive authority over society and has nationalistic qualities.

trotskyism- best described as left-leninism with the priority of an international united workers movement rather than a nationalistic one.

maoism- near-stalinism in china

libertarian communism- community control of government. worker control of factories. very very vauge ideology. (don't get offended, Liberatarian Commie i'm a syndicalist too)

[Palmares]

I'll try to put this basically,

Marxism is the original communist doctrine, i.e. manifesto

Leninism is similar to the above, but with the stressing that imperialism is the worst form of capitalism

Stalinism is National socialism, socialism in one (country)

Maoism is the same as above, but the peasants have power rather than proletariat

Trotskyism is communism as adapted to the theory of 'Internationalism', or 'Permanent Revolution'

Castroism... err... Look at Cuba... some sort of socialism... intermediate knida thingy...

Hope I made someone's day :)

[Red Comrade]

Marxism-is the ideas portrayed in the Manifesto of the Communist party and developed in the Internationals (although some Marxist ideals were distorted by figures such as Kautsky during the internationals).

Leninism- is Lenin's interpretation of the Communist Manifesto, and applied to Russia. Lenin stresses the need, in his opinion, of a vanguard in comparison to guerrilla warfare. Lenin also develops what Marx hadn't lived through, imperialism. Lenin developed anti-imperialist ideals and combined them with Marxism and applied them to the Soviet Union. Usually Leninists favor censorship of media, etc.

Stalinism-is a distorted version of Marxist-Leninism, that applies strict censorship of media and the establishment of Communism/Socialism in one nation in order to support workers revolutions afterwords. Many staunch Stalinist governments are more similar to oligarchies in comparison to worker's democracy.

Maoism- is NOT Stalinism. In fact, Stalinists supposedly are Leninists, Leninists are against guerrilla warfare, while Maoists condone guerrilla warfare. Most Latin American revolutionary groups, including all members of the Cuban revolution, were Maoists. Maoism stresses the need for a cultural revolution (and I agree) when dealing with superstitious and/or ignorant people. Maoism is actually more similar to Trotskyist-Leninism in comparison to Stalinist-Leninism when practiced, although Chairman Mao had great admiration for Stalin, there policies were actually different.

Castroism- is possibly one of the greatest practices of socialism right now. It combines the right amount of freedom and Marxist economics.

[elijahcraig]

Marxism: Read the Communist Manifesto.
Leninism: Read State and Revolution.
Maoism: Read the Little Red Book, Maoism uses the concept of People's War.
Stalinism: Fuck Stalinism, it is useless.
Castroism: I've never heard it as a separate term, but it is what Castro is doing, a little Stalinistic.
Trotskyism: Permanent Revolution.