Maoism

[John Dory]

Maoism or Mao Tse-tung Thought (Chinese: 毛泽东思想, pinyin: Máo Zédōng Sīxiǎng), is a variant of Marxism-Leninism derived from the teachings of Mao Zedong (1893–1976). In the People's Republic of China (PRC) it is the official doctrine of the Communist Party of China. Since the reforms of Deng Xiaoping started in 1978, however, the definition and role of Mao Tse-tung's ideology in the PRC has radically changed.

It should be noted that the word "Maoism" has never been used by the PRC in its English-language publications except derisively: "Mao Tse-tung Thought" has always been the preferred term. Likewise, Maoist groups outside China have usually called themselves "Marxist-Leninist" rather than Maoist. This is a reflection of Mao's view that he did not change, but only developed, "Marxism-Leninism". The word "Maoist" has been used either as a pejorative term by other communists, or as a descriptive term by non-communist writers. However, some Maoist groups, believing that Mao's theories were substantial additions to the Marxist canon, call themselves "Marxist-Leninist-Maoist" or simply "Maoist"; for example, the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist), who distinguish themselves from the much more mainstream Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist).

Outside the PRC, the term Maoism was used from the 1960s onwards, usually in a hostile sense, to describe parties or individuals who supported Mao Zedong and his form of Communism, as opposed to the form practised in the Soviet Union, which the parties supporting Mao denounced as "revisionist." These parties usually rejected the term Maoism, preferring to call themselves Marxist-Leninists. Since the death of Mao and the reforms of Deng, most of these parties have disappeared, but various small Communist groups in a number of countries continue to advance Maoist ideas.

Contents:
1 Maoist theory
2 Maoism in China
3 Maoism internationally
4 Military strategy
5 See also
6 External links
6.1 General
6.2 Maoist organizations (listed alphabetically)
6.3 Revolutions

[drain.you]

No offence but what was this thread for? You want us to discuss maoism just generally or did you have a specific issue to debate.
If it was just informing people then this was pretty pointless as most of us know about maoism and could easily have found it if we didn't. If this was for people to learn from perhaps it should have been placed elsewhere...
From your profile and the link to your myspace, you look like a cool enough guy but I don't understand this thread :P

[Amusing Scrotum]

"Mao Tse-tung Thought" has always been the preferred term.

I don't know whether somethings lost in the translation, but some Maoist terms are hilarious.

Well thats my Armchair Socialist thought anyway.

However, some Maoist groups, believing that Mao's theories were substantial additions to the Marxist canon

The operative word here being believe.

No offence but what was this thread for?

Perhaps to piss off Redstar?

I think the various Maoist groups have taken it upon themselves to post a great deal of Mao stuff, just to try and drive Redstar insane.

[Janus]

I don't think Wikipedia is a great place to gain information on Maoism. After all, it is open to everyone. However, I believe that Maoism shouldn't be considered a true form of Marxism. After all, Mao wildly borrowed elements from many different sources and particularly from Confucianism. I believe that Mao should be remembered for his contributions towards the freedom of the peasants from bondage and China as a whole rather than for any advancement of Marxist theory.

[Clarksist]

My only question about Maoism, is: what is the difference between Mao Tse-Tung and Mao Zedong? Or am I missing something?

[celticfire]

Both Mao Tse-tung and Mao Zedong are pinyin, or the Romanization of Chinese letters. Mao Zedong is the newer version.

[red_che]

I was looking for some comments here from a person I admired most in this forum. Where is he?

Redstar, where are you?

Why are you not reacting on this thread and say something about Maoism?

To be serious, Maoism or Mao Zedong thought are not different. They are synonimous. Not much difference, except the spelling.

Many communist parties are upholding Maoism. Some, or most of them, belong to the International Conference of Marxist-Leninist Parties and Organizations (ICMLPO).

Here is their site:http://www.icmlpo.de/

Maoism, in one broad definition is Marxism-Leninism in the era of continuing proletarian revolution for socialism and against modern revisionism. Well, that definition is mine.

[redstar2000]

Originally posted by red_che
Redstar, where are you?

Stuck deep in the ruins of rural southern Louisiana...where even the internet doesn't always work. Nothing else (power, water, etc.) can necessarily be counted on either.

----------------------------------------

Tim, I wonder why you posted this in the Theory forum -- it seems to be a linguistic matter.

The word "Maoism" seems to convey the real sense of the Chinese phrase better than a literal translation would.

Indeed, literal translations from the Chinese often fail to convey a real understanding to western readers...and, sometimes, just plain sound hilarious.

I recall a Chinese pamphlet from the 1970s that was entitled: Raise High the Red Flag and March Forward in Mighty Strides and Develop the General Line of Our Party!

I used to know a fellow who worked professionally as a translator (of western languages)...and he told me that it's a lot harder than it looks. Trying to capture the full meaning of a text in a different language -- and make sure that the nuances are as fully reflected as possible -- is very difficult.

I imagine that's even more the case with Chinese or other non-western languages. There are a lot of "unspoken cultural assumptions" in every language...and the careless translator may miss some or all of them. A westerner, with difficulty, can learn Chinese in a literal sense -- the vocabulary, the grammer, etc. But it would be much more difficult to learn the unspoken cultural assumptions built into the Chinese language.

And Chinese students would have the same problem with learning a western language. Thus there was usually something "funny" in every issue of the old Peking Review. I don't know how Marx or Engels reads in Chinese translation...but I bet some of it probably sounds pretty funny to Chinese ears.

[RevolverNo9]

The conclusion of the first Chinese translation of the Communist Manifesto is extremely amusing:

'And then the running waters of freedom will stream through your heart from under the burden of the mountain of might. Ah! come! worker! how can you not rise?'

[John Dory]

Just felt like opening up the floodgates. Without posts like this you people probably wouldn't have anything to do anyway. I also just like seeing Red Star's face get even redder. Sorry, drain.you, it probably should've been placed elsewhere.

[RedStarOverChina]

LOL those pamphlets sound funny even in Chinese--reading them from the perspective of a modern person, of course.

But yeah, I hate reading translations. I tried reading Das Kapital in Chinese...It just doesnt work. A reasonably simple idea in English have to be translated into a tongue-twisting, repetitive sentence that one would have to read a several times to grasp the meaning.

[FidelCastro]

Maoism is quite violent and I'm not a big fan of violence. I think Mao wasen't doing to bad until that whole Critisism campaign made him flip out and kill people (like a ninja)

[celticfire]

Oh yes...the old violent bastard Mao!

I spent 2 years in Xi'an China, I can pronounce some words and phrases, recognize like 15 charecters...and that's all after 2 years, to give you idea how hard it is. German was easier, I was picking it up in a matter of months...but that was another romantic language. I was very fortunate to travel, I picked up Marxism outside the U.S. actually. It bothers me that more people can't travel...or afford food

Maoism is short term for Marxism-Leninism-Maoism. I think the "Mao Tsetung Thought" thing was about a pre-enshrined cult of personality for Mao, some people knew it would be an "ism."

The funniest translation of Maoist text I've read was recently, it called Mao the "great helmetman" -- I think they were trying to say "helmsman"?

Mao was no pacifist, either was Che. Look into a bit deeper FidelCastro

[RevolverNo9]

A reasonably simple idea in English have to be translated into a tongue-twisting, repetitive sentence that one would have to read a several times to grasp the meaning.

Marx wrote in German

German was easier, I was picking it up in a matter of months...but that was another romantic language.

German is a Germanic language, not romance, but yeah still Indo-European.

It's incredible how different the whole linguistic mindset is. I think it is literally impossible to translate Chinese poetry into anything that really captures the subject.

[Cooler Reds Will Prevail]

Originally posted by FidelCastro@Dec 5 2005, 10:44 PM
Maoism is quite violent and I'm not a big fan of violence. I think Mao wasen't doing to bad until that whole Critisism campaign made him flip out and kill people (like a ninja)

With a picture of Che next to a tank in your avatar. Hmmmmm...


Celticfire, is the picture in your avatar of a Nepalese Maoist rebel? I've been trying to find some information on the Nepalese Communists, there was an article in National Geographic that I read recently which sort of made me aware of them.

The revolutionary struggle is different from country to country, we cannot expect Mao to have implemented the same policies that Marx proposed because Europe is so vastly different culturally from Eastern Asia. Confucianism was a very popular ideology in China at the time; in order for Mao to win over the support of the masses he had to apply some regional flair into his ideas. Likewise, I do not propose strict Maoism for the rest of the world, because Latin America, for example, does not have the same material conditions that China does and cannot be treated as such. When it comes to Asia I'm a Maoist, but I don't feel that his rhetoric or concepts would really be as applicable elsewhere.

And yeah, "Let a thousand flowers bloom"... WTF does that mean? :hammer: