Communism is not clearly defined or simple. So I wrote this breif guide to the main forms of Communism existing today, I'll answer any questions you want etc. However, this is not an arguement about the viability of Communism, this is a thread about trying to inform people on the various factions and forms in the Communist movement.....
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 organisation, 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: Tiny (Thousands)
Examples: World Communist Movement (with branches in New Zealand, Britain and the US..I believe)
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
collectivisation of agriculture.
Areas of Operation: Europe, particularly Eastern Europe. Has a strong following in the USA too.
Size of Global Movement: Large (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: Moderate (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 mobilising the
masses in a war against the state using the methodology laid down by Mao (a peoples, or
protracted war). Forthly Maoism states that contridictions between the masses continue during Socialism, only disapearing when Communism is instituted. Maoism stresses the need for mass mobilisation, 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: massive (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 generalisations than
anything. Anti-Revisionism indicates a rejection of Khrushchev's 'secret speech' and an
incredibly hardline 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. Some in Europe.
Size of Global Movement: Small (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 hardline 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: Small (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)
