There is one post I've spread as I have hopped between forums over the years, and it is a very brief and somewhat limited introduction to communism. I was not the original author but I join in the conversation. Eventually I will make my own version I suppose. I guess the purpose of this thread could be to discuss anything related to communism. I myself am a communist so I guess this could be the ask-a-communist thread too.
I am not an apologist however. You'll find communists can despise eachother nearly as much as they do the system they fight against, a prime example being North Korea. In fact this thread is probably best put to use discussing current events in "communist" countries in relation to the US to better fit in with this subforum.
Orthodox Marxism
Key Thinkers: Marx, Engels
Description: The Orthodox Marxist's main feature is that they reject Leninism and the vanguard of the Proletariat, instead looking solely at Marx's original writings and stating that the revolution will be a spontaneous affair (along the lines of the Paris Commune being set up) and thus there is no need for a Revolutionary party. Their ideas about society also flow from the writings of Marx and Engels, dreaming of a world with no money, no wages, no government, no leaders, etc. Because of their opposition to Leninism they do not take part in any organization, most of their actions being based around 'educating the masses' while sitting and waiting for the revolution to, spontaneously, happen. Parties are generally small and highly sectarian.
Areas of Operation: Industrial, western nations. Confined mainly to Europe and the USA.
Size of global movement: Thousands
Examples: World Communist Movement (with branches in New Zealand, Britain and the US)
Leninism
Key Thinkers: Marx, Engels, Lenin
Description: Leninism develops Marxism into not so much a social and economic theory, but a fully fledged political ideology incorporating a key methodology to take power. The most important factor of Leninism is the 'Vanguard' theory, which states that there must be a unified revolutionary party of so called 'full time revolutionaries' to spear head and lead the workers revolution. It also states that revolution can be made (clashing with the Orthodox Marxists) and that revolution can be made in countries that have not experienced a full bourgeois revolution (ala Russia, 1917). According to Leninist practice power is to be taken by way of armed struggle against the state (not full blown war) and then the revolution is to be 'exported' through military means, i.e. the Communist forces aiding other Communist Revolutions with supplies and troops. There are very few 'true' Leninist parties left in the world, most parties now have adopted other ideologies, but everything flows back to Leninism.
Areas of Operation: Scattered across the globe, but concentrated in Europe, the USA and Balkans.
Size of Global Movement: Surprisingly small
Examples: A few 'Trotskite' parties adhere to strict Leninism, a few Russian parties.
Stalinism (often called 'Marxist-Leninism' by Stalinists):
Key Thinkers: Marx, Engels, Lenin, Stalin.
Description: Stalinism, contrary to popular opinion, is simply an extension of Leninist thought. Stalinism is virtually exactly the same as Leninism, with several differences. Firstly Stalinism supports 'Socialism in One Country' which means that the focus should be on building Communism in each country as opposed to spreading it through military means, which was no longer viable by the 1930s. Stalinism also states that there must be active antagonism between classes (as opposed to simply fighting in struggles that already exist) so as to further the achievements of the class struggle. Stalinism also tends to stress the importance of heavy industry as well as collectivization of agriculture. Areas of Operation: Europe, particularly Eastern Europe. Has a strong following in the USA too.
Size of Global Movement: Millions
Examples: Russian Communist Workers' Party - Revolutionary Party of Communists, Communist Party Alliance (Britain)
Trotskyism (Occasionally called Bolshevik-Leninism)
Key Thinkers: Marx, Engels, Lenin, Trotsky
Description: Trotskyism bases itself on Leninism, and in most respects is the same. However it stresses the importance of spreading the revolution by way of arms and internationalism as well as claiming that Communism cannot be built without a world revolution (that is, you cannot create Communism in isolation). Trotskyites tend to be very anti-intellectual (despite most of them being of middle class background and Trotsky himself being a well off, educated Jewish man) believing that only the unskilled workers have revolutionary potential. Trotskyite parties tend to be fairly small and sectarian, splitting often, but there are many of them. Often take a leading role in student and anti-war activism. Trotskite parties often make up the bulk of the Communist movement in highly developed capitalist nations (for example, Britain, New Zealand etc) Are constantly trying to form a new international, in fact there are about 20 completely separate 4th/5th internationals at the moment, all of which bitterly hate each other.
Areas of Operation: The west, scatterings in South America.
Size of Global Movement: Hundreds of thousands
Examples: Communist League (branches all over the world), Communist Workers Party (New Zealand).
Maoism (Also known as Marxist-Leninist-Maoism. Maoists often call themselves Marxist-Leninists)
Key Thinkers: Marx, Engels, Lenin, Stalin, Mao
Description: Maoism is, in many ways, an extension of Stalinism but with many key modifications. Firstly Maoism states that the revolution can be made by peasants, that they have the same revolutionary potential as the urban proletariat (this goes against Marx who once called peasants "parasites"). Secondly, Maoism says that everyone can be part of the Revolution regardless of their background, as in Maoism is a mass movement that transcends class boundaries, instead anyone who agreed and was willing to fight for Maoism would be allowed to join the movement. Thirdly, Maoism clearly states that the revolution will be won by way of a peoples war, that is to say mobilizing the masses in a war against the state using the methodology laid down by Mao (a peoples, or protracted war). Fourthly, Maoism states that contradictions between the masses continue during Socialism, only disappearing when Communism is instituted. Maoism stresses the need for mass mobilization, to get everybody involved in building Communism instead of just leaving it to a smaller group of revolutionaries (ala Leninism).
Areas of Operation: Mainly Asia.
Size of Global Movement: Many millions
Examples: Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist), Communist Party of India (Maoist).
Anti-Revisionism (most anti-revisionists call themselves Marxist-Leninists):
Key Thinkers: Marx, Engels, Lenin, Stalin, Hoxha, Kim Il Sung.
Description: Anti-Revisionism is not a defined or unified ideology, so these are more generalizations than anything. Anti-Revisionism indicates a rejection of Khrushchev's 'secret speech' and an incredibly hardliner approach to Communism. They generally adopt a Stalinist model as their basis, but often modify it to incorporate nationalists and/or self reliant ideas. They tend to be very aggressive and sectarian, most holding up Stalin as their champion even more than Stalinists! Many Anti-Revisionists support the DPRK (North Korea) and it's not uncommon for Anti-Revisionist parties to have links with the Korean Workers Party (ruling party of North Korea).
Areas of operation: USA and Eastern Europe.
Size of Global Movement: Thousands
Examples: Communist Party of Canada (Marxist-Leninist) (aka Marxist-Leninist Party of Canada), U.S. Marxist-Leninist Organisation.
Hoxhaism
Key Thinkers: Marx, Engels, Lenin, Stalin, Hoxha
Description: Hoxhaism is, possibly, the most hardliner of all the Communist strains. It is essentially Anti-Revisionism, but based solely around the writings of the late Enver Hoxha (Said Hodz-ya). This stresses self reliance, nationalism (to almost xenophobic extremes), as well as arguing for equal rights for nations of all sizes and more constructive things like UN reform and for countries to be non-aligned and free of foreign influence. Often they worship Hoxha as an almost saintly figure, which keeps in line with the Albanian propaganda of the time (he was the head of Albania). Hoxhaism also incorporates certain aspects of Maoism, for instance mass involvement, but with a more traditional Leninist 'vanguard' to lead them.
Areas of operation: Europe, particularly Eastern Europe and Albania
Size of Global movement: Thousands, most in Albania.
Examples: Communist Party of Albania, Workers Communist Party (Denmark)
Juche
Key thinkers: Kim Il Sung, Kim Jong Il's Ghost Writers
Description: Juche is and isn't a form of Communism. According to the dogma the revolution belongs to the people and the people must be lead by a great leader, in the words of Kim Il Sung: "The leader is the brain to the body of the people, and that the Korean Workers' Party is, in turn, the nervous system that communicates with the brain on behalf of the people." This effectively means that Juche is an autocratic monarchy that uses Socialism, not divine right, as a justification for their actions. Juche also calls for self sufficiency, as well as as little foreign aid and involvement as possible. It is almost religious in nature, Kim Il Sung having been turned into a divine figure and much Juche propaganda is written in almost biblical fashion.
Areas of Operation: North Korea, smatterings in the west.
Size of Global movement: Tiny (Thousands. However there will be many party members in the DPRK,
but this does not indicate ideology)
Examples: Korean Workers Party, Juche Study Groups across the world (more for propaganda purposes than any sort of study)
Orthodox Marxism
Key Thinkers: Marx, Engels
Description: The Orthodox Marxist's main feature is that they reject Leninism and the vanguard of the Proletariat, instead looking solely at Marx's original writings and stating that the revolution will be a spontaneous affair (along the lines of the Paris Commune being set up) and thus there is no need for a Revolutionary party. Their ideas about society also flow from the writings of Marx and Engels, dreaming of a world with no money, no wages, no government, no leaders, etc. Because of their opposition to Leninism they do not take part in any organization, most of their actions being based around 'educating the masses' while sitting and waiting for the revolution to, spontaneously, happen. Parties are generally small and highly sectarian.
Areas of Operation: Industrial, western nations. Confined mainly to Europe and the USA.
Size of global movement: Thousands
Examples: World Communist Movement (with branches in New Zealand, Britain and the US)
Leninism
Key Thinkers: Marx, Engels, Lenin
Description: Leninism develops Marxism into not so much a social and economic theory, but a fully fledged political ideology incorporating a key methodology to take power. The most important factor of Leninism is the 'Vanguard' theory, which states that there must be a unified revolutionary party of so called 'full time revolutionaries' to spear head and lead the workers revolution. It also states that revolution can be made (clashing with the Orthodox Marxists) and that revolution can be made in countries that have not experienced a full bourgeois revolution (ala Russia, 1917). According to Leninist practice power is to be taken by way of armed struggle against the state (not full blown war) and then the revolution is to be 'exported' through military means, i.e. the Communist forces aiding other Communist Revolutions with supplies and troops. There are very few 'true' Leninist parties left in the world, most parties now have adopted other ideologies, but everything flows back to Leninism.
Areas of Operation: Scattered across the globe, but concentrated in Europe, the USA and Balkans.
Size of Global Movement: Surprisingly small
Examples: A few 'Trotskite' parties adhere to strict Leninism, a few Russian parties.
Stalinism (often called 'Marxist-Leninism' by Stalinists):
Key Thinkers: Marx, Engels, Lenin, Stalin.
Description: Stalinism, contrary to popular opinion, is simply an extension of Leninist thought. Stalinism is virtually exactly the same as Leninism, with several differences. Firstly Stalinism supports 'Socialism in One Country' which means that the focus should be on building Communism in each country as opposed to spreading it through military means, which was no longer viable by the 1930s. Stalinism also states that there must be active antagonism between classes (as opposed to simply fighting in struggles that already exist) so as to further the achievements of the class struggle. Stalinism also tends to stress the importance of heavy industry as well as collectivization of agriculture. Areas of Operation: Europe, particularly Eastern Europe. Has a strong following in the USA too.
Size of Global Movement: Millions
Examples: Russian Communist Workers' Party - Revolutionary Party of Communists, Communist Party Alliance (Britain)
Trotskyism (Occasionally called Bolshevik-Leninism)
Key Thinkers: Marx, Engels, Lenin, Trotsky
Description: Trotskyism bases itself on Leninism, and in most respects is the same. However it stresses the importance of spreading the revolution by way of arms and internationalism as well as claiming that Communism cannot be built without a world revolution (that is, you cannot create Communism in isolation). Trotskyites tend to be very anti-intellectual (despite most of them being of middle class background and Trotsky himself being a well off, educated Jewish man) believing that only the unskilled workers have revolutionary potential. Trotskyite parties tend to be fairly small and sectarian, splitting often, but there are many of them. Often take a leading role in student and anti-war activism. Trotskite parties often make up the bulk of the Communist movement in highly developed capitalist nations (for example, Britain, New Zealand etc) Are constantly trying to form a new international, in fact there are about 20 completely separate 4th/5th internationals at the moment, all of which bitterly hate each other.
Areas of Operation: The west, scatterings in South America.
Size of Global Movement: Hundreds of thousands
Examples: Communist League (branches all over the world), Communist Workers Party (New Zealand).
Maoism (Also known as Marxist-Leninist-Maoism. Maoists often call themselves Marxist-Leninists)
Key Thinkers: Marx, Engels, Lenin, Stalin, Mao
Description: Maoism is, in many ways, an extension of Stalinism but with many key modifications. Firstly Maoism states that the revolution can be made by peasants, that they have the same revolutionary potential as the urban proletariat (this goes against Marx who once called peasants "parasites"). Secondly, Maoism says that everyone can be part of the Revolution regardless of their background, as in Maoism is a mass movement that transcends class boundaries, instead anyone who agreed and was willing to fight for Maoism would be allowed to join the movement. Thirdly, Maoism clearly states that the revolution will be won by way of a peoples war, that is to say mobilizing the masses in a war against the state using the methodology laid down by Mao (a peoples, or protracted war). Fourthly, Maoism states that contradictions between the masses continue during Socialism, only disappearing when Communism is instituted. Maoism stresses the need for mass mobilization, to get everybody involved in building Communism instead of just leaving it to a smaller group of revolutionaries (ala Leninism).
Areas of Operation: Mainly Asia.
Size of Global Movement: Many millions
Examples: Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist), Communist Party of India (Maoist).
Anti-Revisionism (most anti-revisionists call themselves Marxist-Leninists):
Key Thinkers: Marx, Engels, Lenin, Stalin, Hoxha, Kim Il Sung.
Description: Anti-Revisionism is not a defined or unified ideology, so these are more generalizations than anything. Anti-Revisionism indicates a rejection of Khrushchev's 'secret speech' and an incredibly hardliner approach to Communism. They generally adopt a Stalinist model as their basis, but often modify it to incorporate nationalists and/or self reliant ideas. They tend to be very aggressive and sectarian, most holding up Stalin as their champion even more than Stalinists! Many Anti-Revisionists support the DPRK (North Korea) and it's not uncommon for Anti-Revisionist parties to have links with the Korean Workers Party (ruling party of North Korea).
Areas of operation: USA and Eastern Europe.
Size of Global Movement: Thousands
Examples: Communist Party of Canada (Marxist-Leninist) (aka Marxist-Leninist Party of Canada), U.S. Marxist-Leninist Organisation.
Hoxhaism
Key Thinkers: Marx, Engels, Lenin, Stalin, Hoxha
Description: Hoxhaism is, possibly, the most hardliner of all the Communist strains. It is essentially Anti-Revisionism, but based solely around the writings of the late Enver Hoxha (Said Hodz-ya). This stresses self reliance, nationalism (to almost xenophobic extremes), as well as arguing for equal rights for nations of all sizes and more constructive things like UN reform and for countries to be non-aligned and free of foreign influence. Often they worship Hoxha as an almost saintly figure, which keeps in line with the Albanian propaganda of the time (he was the head of Albania). Hoxhaism also incorporates certain aspects of Maoism, for instance mass involvement, but with a more traditional Leninist 'vanguard' to lead them.
Areas of operation: Europe, particularly Eastern Europe and Albania
Size of Global movement: Thousands, most in Albania.
Examples: Communist Party of Albania, Workers Communist Party (Denmark)
Juche
Key thinkers: Kim Il Sung, Kim Jong Il's Ghost Writers
Description: Juche is and isn't a form of Communism. According to the dogma the revolution belongs to the people and the people must be lead by a great leader, in the words of Kim Il Sung: "The leader is the brain to the body of the people, and that the Korean Workers' Party is, in turn, the nervous system that communicates with the brain on behalf of the people." This effectively means that Juche is an autocratic monarchy that uses Socialism, not divine right, as a justification for their actions. Juche also calls for self sufficiency, as well as as little foreign aid and involvement as possible. It is almost religious in nature, Kim Il Sung having been turned into a divine figure and much Juche propaganda is written in almost biblical fashion.
Areas of Operation: North Korea, smatterings in the west.
Size of Global movement: Tiny (Thousands. However there will be many party members in the DPRK,
but this does not indicate ideology)
Examples: Korean Workers Party, Juche Study Groups across the world (more for propaganda purposes than any sort of study)
