Marxism–Leninism–Maoism
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Marxism–Leninism–Maoism (MLM) is the ideology that upholds the ideology contributions of Mao Zedong as the most advanced form of Marxism. It differs from Mao Zedong Thought (an ideology spawned from Chinese conditions) in its supposedly universal application of Mao's ideas and tactics.
Origins
Marxism–Leninism–Maoism originated at the time of the formation of the Shining Path and its people's war in Peru. During the people's war, increased ideological coordination among Maoist parties culminated in the founding of the RIM (Revolutionary Internationalist Movement). Founding members of the Revolutionary Internationalist Movement included TKP/ML, the Communist Party of the Philippines, Iran's Sarbedaran, Communist Party Nepal (Maoist), India's Maoists, and the Revolutionary Communist Party (USA). All parties participating in the RIM adopted Marxism–Leninism–Maoism (MLM) as put forth by the Shining Path's leadership.
Tenets
Relation to Mao Zedong Thought
According to Mao, the peasant masses were to be the main force of the revolution, with the class-conscious proletariat acting as the leading force. The poor peasantry surrounding the cities would then wage a protracted war for democratic reform under the leadership of the Communist party. After the victory of the peasant army, it becomes the task of the party to carry out New Democratic revolution. Preserving the unity of the party with the masses is another concept central to the theories of the Chinese Revolution. Mao devised the strategy of the mass line to better coordinate party action with the masses. The two-line struggle was introduced to combat inequality arising from class struggle within socialism and to prevent a possible takeover of the party by hostile elements. Importantly, Mao also upheld the theory of Soviet social-imperialism. MLM thus maintains heavy (self-declared) anti-revisionist tendencies. MLM defers from Mao Zedong Thought in its belief in the universal (or near-universal) application of Mao's theory to material conditions outside of China.