I would argue that it is the very definition of revisionism (that term itself is overused but it is applicable as Maoism claims to be different from Marxism-Leninism through some sort of “rupture” with the previous philosophy).
But other than that, Mao Zedong Thought was created by Mao. Mao always claimed to be a Marxist-Leninist first and foremost. Maoism simply meant, before the 1980s, that you supported Mao and the PRC during the Sino-Soviet split. After the 1980s, it came to mean Gonzalo’s creed. Maoists claim that the Soviet model is superior and the only form of socialism. They also believe that the different model of the 1980s onward during Reform and Opening Up is bad and anti-communist or some sort of capitalist restoration. Maoists do not like China. They idolize the “cultural revolution” but say that Mao “didn’t go far enough” and that he was basically too tepid (and that the Gang of Four would’ve gone further than he would and be a natural extension of the communist experiment).
Maoists have also turned out to be anti-communist or at least anti-other-communist in nature, as they have fought and killed other communist groups that are pro-Soviet, even at the expense of liberation forces in Latin America and Africa (and to the win of pro-imperialist forces by the USA and Europe).
White Supremacy Confronted by Gerald Horne talks somewhat about this.
I would argue that it is the very definition of revisionism (that term itself is overused but it is applicable as Maoism claims to be different from Marxism-Leninism through some sort of “rupture” with the previous philosophy).
But other than that, Mao Zedong Thought was created by Mao. Mao always claimed to be a Marxist-Leninist first and foremost. Maoism simply meant, before the 1980s, that you supported Mao and the PRC during the Sino-Soviet split. After the 1980s, it came to mean Gonzalo’s creed. Maoists claim that the Soviet model is superior and the only form of socialism. They also believe that the different model of the 1980s onward during Reform and Opening Up is bad and anti-communist or some sort of capitalist restoration. Maoists do not like China. They idolize the “cultural revolution” but say that Mao “didn’t go far enough” and that he was basically too tepid (and that the Gang of Four would’ve gone further than he would and be a natural extension of the communist experiment).
Maoists have also turned out to be anti-communist or at least anti-other-communist in nature, as they have fought and killed other communist groups that are pro-Soviet, even at the expense of liberation forces in Latin America and Africa (and to the win of pro-imperialist forces by the USA and Europe).
White Supremacy Confronted by Gerald Horne talks somewhat about this.
TIL. I thought the two terms were the same, so I was confused because I thought “wait, China still uses Mao’s teachings doesn’t it? Why is it bad?”
Thanks!
No problem!
But yes, Maoism since the 1980s is based on Gonzalo’s creed, nothing more, nothing less.