Question 1

Marxism-Leninism-Maoism (MLM) is a unified ideology and comprehensive science that guides revolutionaries by blending teachings of Marx, Engels, Lenin, Stalin, and Mao, evolving with historical contexts to understand and enhance societal and personal practices.

Accepted Answer

Let's explore Marxism-Leninism-Maoism, in brief MLM, a crucial tool for revolutionaries. It's not just about activism or theorizing, but a balanced approach to studying ideology. MLM is a lens through which we can understand and enhance our practices, both on a personal level and within a group setting.

MLM is the guiding light of the Communist Party. It's a blend of the teachings of Marx, Engels, Lenin, Stalin, and Mao. But it's not just a collection of their thoughts. It's a comprehensive science that sheds light on the evolution of society and nature, the revolution of the oppressed, and the building of socialist and communist societies.

Let's break it down. Marxism, the brainchild of Marx and Engels, encompasses dialectical materialism, historical materialism, Marxist political economy, and the theory of scientific socialism. Then comes Leninism, which took Marxism a step further in the era of imperialism and proletarian revolution. It added insights into the nature of imperialism, the process of proletarian revolution, the dictatorship of the proletariat, socialist construction, and the role of national liberation movements.

Maoism is the next stage, further evolving Marxism-Leninism to fit the modern era. Mao's contributions include the theory of contradictions, the mass line approach, new democracy, protracted people's war, and the theory and practice of continuous revolution under proletarian dictatorship, as seen in the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution.

It's important to note that Marxism, Leninism, and Maoism are not separate ideologies. Instead, they represent stages in the evolution of a single, unified ideology. The goal is to grasp the essence of each component of MLM within their historical contexts. This understanding makes the ideology more accessible and relevant to our times.

Question 2

Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, influenced by their early experiences with social injustices and philosophical studies, collaborated to develop the communist ideology known as Marxism.

Accepted Answer

Let's take a journey into the early lives of Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, the founders of Marxism. Our journey starts in Trier, Germany, where Marx was raised in a middle-class family. Despite his comfortable upbringing, Marx was exposed to the harsh realities of poverty and discrimination against Jews in his community. His academic journey led him to study law and philosophy at university. After his studies, Marx ventured into journalism and became a radical democrat. He edited a newspaper that was so controversial it was eventually banned by the Prussian authorities. Marx's philosophical views underwent a significant shift from idealism to materialism after he came across the works of Feuerbach and other left Hegelians.

Moving on, we find Engels growing up in an industrial town in Prussia. Engels was confronted with the grim realities of child labor and lung diseases in factories. Although he was educated in business, Engels was drawn to philosophy and political writing. His work in England introduced him to communist ideas. While in England, he studied the conditions of workers in Manchester and began to see the revolutionary potential of the working class, or proletariat.

Marx and Engels first crossed paths in 1842, but it wasn't until 1844 that their shared philosophical views brought them together. They began to collaborate on writing projects, critiquing the Young Hegelians and laying the groundwork for what would become Marxist theory. When Marx was expelled from Paris, Engels joined him in Brussels. It was here that they penned The German Ideology, their first major work that developed their new communist ideology, which we now know as Marxism.

Question 3

Marxist philosophy, rooted in materialism, uses dialectical and historical materialism to understand social change and revolution as a result of contradictions within the material development of society.

Accepted Answer

Marxist philosophy is based on two key concepts: dialectical materialism and historical materialism. Unlike idealist philosophy, which focuses on ideas and concepts, Marxism is rooted in materialism, the belief that the physical world is the only reality. However, Marx didn't view the world as a simple machine, as some materialists did. Instead, he borrowed the concept of dialectics from Hegel, which sees the world as a network of contradictions and interconnections.

Marx took Hegel's dialectics and gave them a materialist twist, creating what we now know as dialectical materialism. This approach views reality as a web of interconnected and contradictory elements, but always through a materialist lens. Marx then applied this concept to society and history, leading to the development of historical materialism.

Historical materialism is a way of understanding social change and revolution. It doesn't focus solely on ideas, but also on the material conditions of society. It begins with the development of productive forces, such as tools and technology, which in turn lead to certain production or property relations. These relations form the economic base of society. Built on top of this base is the superstructure, which includes legal, political, and social systems.

Revolution becomes necessary when the production relations hinder the development of the productive forces. This conflict leads to a change in the relations of production and the economic base, which then causes changes in the superstructure. This theory shows how revolution is born out of contradictions within the material development of society.

Question 4

Marxist political economy critiques capitalism by revealing its inherent contradictions and exploitation of labor, advocating for its overthrow through a proletarian revolution to establish social ownership of production.

Accepted Answer

Marxist political economy, as developed by Karl Marx, is a critique and extension of the bourgeois political economy, which was championed by thinkers like Adam Smith. Marx's theory emphasizes that economics is not just about the interaction of commodities, but more importantly, it's about the relationships between people and social classes.

Let's take a closer look at Marx's analysis of the commodity, which is the fundamental unit of capitalism. Marx demonstrated how the exchange of commodities connects the economic lives of producers in a way that is particularly evident in capitalist societies. In fact, under capitalism, even a person's ability to work, or labor power, is treated as a commodity.

Here's how it works: a worker sells his labor power to a capitalist. A portion of the worker's day is spent earning enough to cover his wage, which is what he needs to survive. But the rest of the working day is spent creating what Marx called surplus value. This surplus value is essentially free labor that the capitalist benefits from, and it's where his profit comes from. By identifying surplus value, Marx revealed the exploitation of labor that occurs under capitalism.

Marx also explained the inherent contradictions in capitalism that lead to recurring economic crises. He pointed out the fundamental conflict between the social nature of production and the private nature of ownership. In other words, capitalists tend to overproduce while simultaneously reducing workers' wages, which limits their ability to purchase goods. This mismatch between increasing production and decreasing consumption leads to overproduction crises.

Marx also highlighted how the centralization of capital during these crises intensifies class conflicts. According to Marx, the only way to resolve these conflicts is through a proletarian revolution, which would end private ownership and establish social ownership of production.

In summary, Marx used political economy as a tool to expose the economic laws of capitalism and to argue for its overthrow by the working class, or proletariat. This, he believed, was necessary for the transition to socialism.

Question 5

The Paris Commune of 1871, despite its brief existence, significantly influenced Marxist theory and the labor movement by providing a real-world example of proletariat rule and highlighting the need for strong leadership and dismantling of the bourgeois state.

Accepted Answer

The Paris Commune of 1871 was a pivotal moment when the working class, or proletariat, first seized power. Although it only lasted for a brief 72 days before it was suppressed, it offered invaluable insights for the development of Marxist theory and the labor movement.

The backdrop to this event was the Franco-Prussian war, during which Prussia had Paris under siege. The French government's attempt to disarm the radical Paris National Guard sparked a rebellion, leading to the formation of the Commune. The Commune implemented progressive policies, offering a glimpse into what a new society could look like. However, it was constantly under threat and was eventually defeated by the French army, resulting in the death of thousands.

Karl Marx and the First International initially viewed the uprising as premature, but once it was in motion, they offered their full support. Marx conducted a thorough analysis of the event, praising the Commune as the first instance of a dictatorship of the proletariat. He highlighted its major progressive policies as examples of what working-class rule could look like.

Marx also extracted important lessons from the Commune's experience. The first was the necessity for strong centralized leadership by a revolutionary party, something that was missing in the Commune. The second was the need to dismantle the bourgeois state machinery, instead of trying to repurpose it.

Marx spread the achievements and lessons of the Commune worldwide. This helped to clear up misunderstandings about the event among revolutionaries. The clarity and correctness of the Marxist position on the Commune's experience solidified its leadership within the labor movement.

Question 6

Lenin, influenced by his brother's execution, dedicated his life to the propagation of Marxism in Russia, leading revolutionary activities, and uniting Marxist circles despite facing expulsion, arrest, and exile.

Accepted Answer

Marxism found its way to Russia quite early on, with the Russian translation of Capital appearing just five years after its first publication in German in 1867. Figures like Plekhanov played a significant role in introducing Marxism to Russia and challenging the prevailing Narodnik views.

Born in 1870, Lenin came from a family of well-educated professional revolutionaries. The execution of his elder brother Alexander for plotting against the Tsar deeply influenced Lenin, inspiring him to commit himself to the revolutionary cause. Despite being an excellent student, Lenin was expelled from university due to his political activities and his efforts to propagate Marxism. After a brief stint as a lawyer, he relocated to St. Petersburg to focus on revolutionary work.

In St. Petersburg, Lenin conducted lectures in clandestine Marxist study circles, further spreading the principles of Marxism and challenging the liberal views of the Narodniks. His focus was on disseminating propaganda among the masses. It was during this time that he met his future wife, Krupskaya. Lenin also traveled overseas and connected with the Emancipation of Labour group. Upon his return to Russia, he united various Marxist circles into the League of Struggle.

In 1895, Lenin was arrested but continued to write and orchestrate strikes from his prison cell. He was exiled to Siberia in 1897, where he engaged in theoretical work and translated an English book with the help of Krupskaya. After his release in 1900, Lenin wasted no time in resuming his revolutionary activities.

Question 7

The 1905 Russian Revolution, marked by mass strikes and protests, saw the Bolsheviks under Lenin advocating for a worker-led armed uprising against the Tsar, a strategy that, despite initial defeat, laid the groundwork for their victory in the 1917 Revolution.

Accepted Answer

Let's delve into the historical event of the Russian Revolution of 1905 and how the Bolsheviks, under Lenin's leadership, developed their revolutionary tactics. This period was marked by the Russo-Japanese War, which saw Russia's defeat in 1905. The loss in the war worsened the economic crisis and increased the suffering of the common people, leading to the 1905 Revolution characterized by mass strikes and protests.

The Bolsheviks, during this time, adopted a revolutionary approach. They demanded the overthrow of the Tsar and stood against nationalism. On the other hand, the Mensheviks believed in a more reformist approach. They argued that the liberal bourgeoisie should spearhead the revolution and that the workers should avoid scaring them into siding with the Tsar.

Lenin, a key figure in the Bolsheviks, advocated for the working class to lead the revolution. He called for an armed uprising to overthrow the Tsar, forming an alliance with the peasantry, isolating the liberal bourgeoisie, and pushing the revolution from a bourgeois democratic stage to a socialist one. The Mensheviks, however, argued for a peaceful revolution under the leadership of the bourgeoisie and wanted to limit the revolution to bourgeois democratic changes.

In terms of action, the Bolsheviks called for an armed uprising, formation of workers' militias, mass strikes, and revolutionary peasant seizures of land. The Mensheviks, in contrast, promoted participation in the Tsar's parliament. Despite the revolution being defeated, it served as a learning experience for the masses and validated Lenin's tactics. This laid the groundwork for the Bolsheviks' victory in the Russian Revolution of 1917.

Question 8

Lenin viewed imperialism as the ultimate, decaying stage of capitalism, characterized by monopoly, decline in production, and territorial division, which he believed would inevitably lead to a socialist revolution.

Accepted Answer

In his 1916 work, "Imperialism, the Highest Stage of Capitalism", Lenin dissected the concept of imperialism, which he saw as the ultimate phase of capitalism. This examination was crucial to counteract the theory of "ultra-imperialism" proposed by Karl Kautsky. Kautsky's theory suggested that imperialism would lead to the formation of stable multinational corporations, eliminating the threat of war.

Lenin's definition of imperialism revolved around three main points. First, he saw it as a form of monopoly capitalism, where production is concentrated into cartels and finance capital. Second, he described it as parasitic or decaying capitalism, characterized by a decline in production and technology. Lastly, he viewed it as moribund capitalism, a stage that signals the onset of a revolution.

Lenin further broke down monopoly capitalism into five economic phenomena. These included the replacement of free competition with cartels and trusts, the merging of banks with industrial capital, the growing importance of capital export, the division of the world market by international cartels, and the territorial division of the world among powerful nations.

The parasitic and decaying nature of imperialism, according to Lenin, was evident in the decline in production, the rise of rentier capitalists, the oppression of colonies, and political reaction. He saw it as a dying form of capitalism because the monopoly led to an excessive socialization of production. This, in turn, intensified the contradiction between socialized production and private ownership. Therefore, Lenin concluded that imperialism was the precursor to a socialist revolution.

Question 9

The Third International, formed after the October Revolution, played a pivotal role in spreading Marxism and guiding the formation of communist parties across the globe, despite unsuccessful revolutions outside of Russia.

Accepted Answer

In 1919, following the triumph of the October Revolution in Russia, the Third International, also known as the Comintern, was formed. This was a time when World War I had sparked revolutionary crises across Europe. The ripple effects of the October Revolution were felt far and wide, even in countries where Marxism was not a dominant ideology. Revolutions also broke out in Germany and Hungary, but they were ultimately quashed.

Despite these setbacks, communist parties began to take shape in numerous countries. The Bolsheviks, who had been advocating for a Third International since 1914, took the lead in its formation. The inaugural Congress took place in Moscow in 1919, bringing together communist parties from various nations. Lenin, a key figure in the movement, emphasized that the significance of the Third International lay in its representation of the proletariat that had successfully seized power in Russia.

The following year, the Second Congress was held with broad participation from 41 countries. During this Congress, Lenin made significant theoretical contributions. He penned "Left-Wing" Communism, an Infantile Disorder, a work aimed at rectifying the mistakes of new parties. He also wrote Theses on the National and Colonial Question, which laid the groundwork for leading national liberation struggles. The Congress adopted these theses, which outlined basic tasks, the role of communist parties, trade unions, parliament, and so on.

The Third International played a crucial role in guiding its member parties through the tumultuous post-war revolutionary climate. Even though revolutions outside of Russia were unsuccessful, the Third International facilitated the establishment of communist parties in colonies and semi-colonies. These parties were instrumental in leading national liberation movements. As a result, Marxism began to spread to less developed countries for the first time, all under the guidance of the Third International.

Question 10

Joseph Stalin, born into poverty in Georgia, became a dedicated Marxist revolutionary, leading strikes and building a secret Bolshevik military organization, which played a significant role in the 1917 Russian Revolution.

Accepted Answer

The early life and revolutionary activities of Joseph Stalin lead up to the significant 1917 revolution in Russia. Born in 1879 into a poor family in Georgia, an oppressed nationality under the Russian Empire, Stalin's beginnings were humble. Despite their financial struggles, his determined mother made sure he received an education.

While studying at a seminary, Stalin found himself drawn to radical ideas and the philosophy of Marxism. He became part of an underground socialist group, where he began to organize workers. After being expelled from the seminary in 1899, Stalin fully committed himself to revolutionary work. He led strikes and May Day demonstrations, frequently getting arrested and exiled to Siberia. However, he always managed to escape and return to his revolutionary activities.

Stalin was instrumental in building a secret Bolshevik military organization in the Caucasus, preparing for an armed uprising against the Tsarist regime. In 1905, he met Lenin for the first time and chose to side with the Bolshevik faction after they split from the Mensheviks. Stalin attended Bolshevik conferences and, in 1912, was elected to the Central Committee. However, he was soon arrested again and exiled in Siberia from 1913-1917.

Throughout these early years, Stalin showed courage and dedication to the revolutionary cause, maintaining close ties to the working class. To evade the Tsarist secret police, he carried out his underground revolutionary activities under various pseudonyms and false identities. After the February Revolution overthrew the Tsar in 1917, Stalin returned to his revolutionary work full-time, leading the Bolsheviks until Lenin's arrival.

Question 11

The conflict against Trotskyism in the Soviet Union post-October Revolution was characterized by Trotsky's advocacy for permanent revolution, opposition to Bolshevik organizational principles, and false propaganda against Bolshevik leadership, leading to its defeat by the 1930s.

Accepted Answer

After the October Revolution in the Soviet Union, a significant conflict arose against Trotskyism. Trotsky, who had initially supported the Mensheviks and opposed the Bolsheviks, joined the latter following the 1917 revolution. Despite this, he continued to challenge the Bolsheviks on numerous issues.

Stalin identified three main characteristics of Trotskyism that needed to be addressed:

1) The theory of permanent revolution - Trotsky advocated for a swift shift from a bourgeois democratic revolution to a socialist one, without the need for peasantry. This theory contradicted the idea of building socialism within a single country. It was ultimately defeated on matters such as the Brest-Litovsk peace treaty, the introduction of the New Economic Policy (NEP), and socialist industrialization.

2) Opposition to Bolshevik organizational principles - Trotsky was against democratic centralism and called for freedom for factions within the party. He rallied opportunists against the Bolshevik line.

3) False propaganda against Bolshevik leadership - After losing in open debate, Trotsky began secret factional activities and even plotted to assassinate Bolshevik leaders. He established connections with foreign intelligence agencies. His conspiracies resulted in the murder of Kirov in 1934. Other Trotskyists were put on trial and executed for their crimes following investigations.

By the 1930s, Trotskyism had stopped being a political trend and had fully devolved into secret plots and conspiracies against the Bolshevik leadership and the Soviet state. It was decisively defeated through ideological and organizational struggle. This explanation provides a clear understanding of the conflict against Trotskyism in the Soviet Union following the October Revolution.

Question 12

Mao Zedong's early life, marked by scholarly dissent and peasant uprisings, led him to become a key figure in the Chinese Communist Party, influenced by Marxism-Leninism and dedicated to organizing workers and recruiting youth.

Accepted Answer

Mao Zedong, born in 1893 in China's Hunan province, was raised in an environment rich with scholarly dissent and peasant uprisings. His early years were marked by a rebellious spirit, particularly against his strict father, and a keen interest in reading. After finishing primary school, Mao continued to educate himself while seeking his life's purpose.

The 1911 Bourgeois Revolution had a profound impact on Mao, leading him to join the revolutionary army. However, his time in the army was short-lived due to his growing disillusionment.

In the midst of his educational journey, Mao became deeply involved in the radical student movement of his era. He took an active role in organizing student protests and a student militia, and he devoured progressive literature. After graduating from college in 1917, Mao traveled to Beijing, where he was introduced to Marxism. Upon returning to his hometown, Changsha, he established a radical student group that would later become a significant source of Communist Party members. Mao's political ideology gradually shifted towards Marxism-Leninism, a change largely influenced by his extensive reading and participation in the May 4th Movement of 1919.

In 1921, Mao was present at the first Congress of the Chinese Communist Party as one of its founding members. He then dedicated his efforts to developing the party in Hunan, following Leninist principles. He focused on recruiting young people and organizing workers, and he advocated for an alliance with the Kuomintang and their strategy of a national united front. Mao's tireless underground work from 1919 to 1923 eventually led to his appointment as a member of the Party Central Committee.

Question 13

Mao Zedong's Maoism provided a revolutionary blueprint for colonies and semi-colonies, advocating for a new democratic revolution led by the proletariat against imperialism, with a transition to a socialist state guided by the communist party.

Accepted Answer

Mao, based on his experience with the Chinese revolution, formulated a revolutionary path for colonies and semi-colonies. This approach gained global recognition within the international communist movement soon after the success of the Chinese revolution in 1949.

Mao's theory was that in the era of imperialism and proletarian revolution, the bourgeois democratic revolution in colonies had evolved. It was no longer part of the old capitalist world revolution, but instead, it had become part of the new socialist world revolution. He termed this the new democratic revolution. This revolution was to be led by the proletariat, based on an alliance between workers and peasants, and directed against imperialism.

In terms of alliances, Mao believed that the united front should be composed of the proletariat, peasantry, urban petit bourgeoisie, and national bourgeoisie. The enemies, according to him, were the comprador bourgeoisie and landlords. He proposed a strategy of protracted people's war, which involved establishing rural base areas and then encircling the cities. He also outlined military principles for building a red army, starting with guerrilla warfare.

Mao further elaborated on the theory of new democracy, explaining that the form of state in colonial revolutions would be a new-democratic republic. This republic would be a joint dictatorship of the revolutionary classes, led by the proletariat. He also detailed how the communist party should guide the transition from this people's democratic dictatorship to a socialist state.

In conclusion, Maoism served as a roadmap for revolution in colonies and semi-colonies, using the Chinese path of revolution as a blueprint.

Question 14

Mao Zedong shaped the Communist Party of China through democratic centralism, dialectical materialism, and the mass-line, emphasizing the importance of democracy, unity, and a continuous exchange of ideas between the party and the masses.

Accepted Answer

Mao played a significant role in shaping the Communist Party of China. He strongly advocated for the implementation of democratic centralism within the party. This concept involves first establishing democracy, and then centralism. Mao believed that centralism was about unifying correct ideas, which could only be achieved if all members were given the freedom to openly express their opinions. He argued that without democracy, it would be impossible to accurately summarize experiences and achieve unity through centralism.

Furthermore, Mao extended the concept of democratic centralism to the management of the socialist state and economy. He believed that without engaging and overseeing the masses, the dictatorship of the proletariat could not be strengthened. He viewed inner-party democracy as a protective measure against revisionism.

When it came to dealing with differing opinions within the party, Mao's approach was rooted in dialectical materialism. He viewed incorrect opinions as a reflection of foreign classes in society. He believed that through serious struggle, these non-antagonistic contradictions could be rectified. However, if these errors continued and worsened, they would become antagonistic. This approach was Mao's way of correcting Stalin's rigid method.

Mao also introduced the concept of the mass-line, which emphasized the importance of the party leadership maintaining close ties with the masses. From a philosophical perspective, he presented the mass-line as a crucial aspect of the Marxist theory of knowledge. Politically and organizationally, he demonstrated that the mass-line was the foundation of a correct political line and inner-party relations. The mass-line involved gathering the scattered ideas of the masses and transforming them into systematic ideas through study. These ideas would then be propagated among the masses until they adopted them as their own. This process would then be repeated, creating an endless spiral. This approach allowed for a continuous exchange of ideas and knowledge between the party and the masses.

Question 15

The Great Debate between 1963 and 1964 saw Mao Zedong's Communist Party of China oppose Nikita Khrushchev's modern revisionism, leading to the acceptance of Maoism as the guiding ideology of the international proletariat.

Accepted Answer

Mao stood up against Nikita Khrushchev's modern revisionism in a period known as the Great Debate, which took place from 1963 to 1964.

When Stalin passed away in 1953, Khrushchev and his group of revisionists took over the Communist Party of the Soviet Union (CPSU) and the Soviet state. During the 20th Congress of the CPSU in 1956, Khrushchev criticized Stalin and introduced his revisionist theory of the Three Peacefuls. This theory suggested a peaceful transition, peaceful coexistence, and peaceful competition. It rejected the need for revolution, advocated for cooperation with imperialist powers, and viewed the contradictions between imperialist and socialist ideologies as non-antagonistic, meaning they could be resolved peacefully.

Several communist party leaders agreed with Khrushchev's stance. However, the CPC, under Mao's leadership, strongly opposed this modern revisionism. In 1956, the CPC published articles supporting Stalin and emphasizing the importance of distinguishing between friends and enemies. The disagreement escalated in 1959 when the USSR withdrew its aid and experts from China. The CPC defended Leninism in articles published in 1960. As the debate intensified, the CPC responded in 1962 and 1963 to criticisms from other parties.

In June 1963, the CPC summarized its views in a letter titled "A Proposal Concerning the General Line of the International Communist Movement." This letter outlined the revolutionary general line of Marxism-Leninism on the fundamental contradictions in the world, the identification of friends and enemies, and the goals and path of the world revolution. After receiving an open letter from the CPSU, the CPC decided to conduct the debate openly through the press. The CPC published nine commentaries that further explained its revolutionary positions on key issues facing the world communist movement after World War II.

The Great Debate led to the acceptance of Maoism as the guiding ideology of the international proletariat, or working class.

Question 16

The late 1960s and 1970s were marked by global revolutionary fervor, but the death of Mao Zedong and the rise of Deng Xiaoping led to ideological confusion and setbacks, yet Maoism remained a guiding light for the global socialist revolution.

Accepted Answer

Let's take a journey back to the late 1960s, a time of global revolutionary fervor. Anti-imperialist battles were raging in Vietnam, and Maoism was guiding armed conflicts in the Third World. Africa was witnessing national liberation movements, while mass student and anti-war movements were shaking up capitalist countries. This revolutionary momentum carried on into the 1970s, leading to the overthrow of colonial regimes in Africa and Asia.

However, a significant shift occurred in 1976 with the death of Mao Zedong. Deng Xiaoping and his capitalist supporters seized power in China, effectively removing the socialist base from the proletariat's control. The majority of countries that had been freed from colonial rule fell under the influence of Soviet social-imperialism. Unfortunately, the revolutionary forces were not robust enough to take advantage of the global situation.

In the wake of these events, there was a period of ideological confusion. Deng's revisionists initially tried to present the Three Worlds Theory as Mao's line of thought. However, most revolutionaries rejected Deng's approach after his open reversal in 1981. Despite the loss of socialist bases, revolutionary forces that upheld Maoism continued to push forward, leading armed struggles in several countries. The fall of bureaucratic regimes in Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union sparked ongoing revolutionary crises in those regions.

Despite these temporary setbacks, Maoism remained a guiding light, providing the correct theory and strategy for the global socialist revolution. It's important to remember that temporary defeats are part of the long and challenging process of revolution. Ultimately, the principles of Marxism-Leninism-Maoism will guide the international proletariat to victory.

Question 17

Accepted Answer

The book "Marxism-Leninism-Maoism Basic Course" by the Communist Party of India is a comprehensive guide to understanding the principles of Marxism, Leninism, and Maoism. It traces the development of these ideologies, their historical context, and their application in the modern world. The book emphasizes the importance of understanding the essence of these ideologies and applying them in day-to-day life. It discusses the theory of knowledge, the theory of contradictions, the mass line of "from the masses, to the masses", the theory of new democracy, the path of revolution for colonies and semi-colonies, the theory of protracted people's war, the principles of military warfare, the organizational principles of the proletarian party, the political economy of socialism, and the theory and practice of continuing revolution under the dictatorship of the proletariat to consolidate socialism.

Here are 10 specific actions that reflect the learnings from the book:

1. Understand the essence of Marxism-Leninism-Maoism: This involves studying the ideologies and their historical context, not as dogma, but as a guide to action.

2. Apply the theory of knowledge: This means recognizing that knowledge comes from social practice and using this understanding to inform your actions.

3. Implement the mass line: This involves listening to the masses, understanding their needs and concerns, and taking action based on this understanding.

4. Advocate for new democracy: This means fighting for a democratic system that truly represents the interests of the masses.

5. Support the path of revolution for colonies and semi-colonies: This involves advocating for the rights and independence of oppressed nations.

6. Understand and apply the theory of protracted people's war: This means recognizing the importance of sustained struggle in achieving revolutionary goals.

7. Uphold the principles of military warfare: This involves understanding the strategies and tactics used in revolutionary warfare.

8. Implement the organizational principles of the proletarian party: This means building a strong, disciplined party that truly represents the interests of the proletariat.

9. Understand and apply the political economy of socialism: This involves advocating for a socialist economic system that benefits the masses.

10. Support the theory and practice of continuing revolution: This means recognizing the need for ongoing struggle to consolidate socialism and prevent the restoration of capitalism.

Marxism Leninism Maoism Basic Course - Book Summary (2024)