Like, let’s say that hypothetically China is not socialist. Why do they feel the need to equate it to the USA or to constantly diss it? Literally, no other country has 800 military bases abroad, and no other country will vulture the resources away from a fallen China like the USA would. So, being a Maoist to me just is helping the USA Intelligence departments. Literally, NATO and Western Imperialism are the main enemies, I don’t get why some groups wouldn’t want to take China as an ally. Even if they were ultra capitalist like the Maoist say, if the West falls is not like China would even be able to become the USA 2.0. They make up a dystopian future based on lies and fears and then equate that fake future to our current world, and end up equating an evil empire to a country that just wants to give the rest of the world another option.

Maoists feel like an “us vs the world” exclusive club to me

    • Drewfro66@lemmygrad.mlEnglish
      30·
      11 days ago

      The origin of “Maoism” as it’s used today goes back to China after Mao’s death, where there was a power struggle between those who stuck closer to Mao’s teachings (Peasant Democracy and political education/activism) and the more Technocratic, economically liberal elements.

      In reality, the result was that moderates took power and did their best to appease both sides; but to the Maoists, they believe that after Mao’s death China fell to Liberal revisionism and the Gang of Four, the leaders of the Maoist movement, were exiled.

      Maoism was popularized outside of China by Peru’s Shining Path, led by Chairman Gonzalo.

        • cfgaussian@lemmygrad.ml
          21·
          11 days ago

          “Maoists” hate Socialism with Chinese Characteristics. They are ultras. Basically China’s version of Trotskyites. No existing socialism is good enough for them because it’s never pure enough, left enough, or revolutionary enough. It is deeply ironic that they call themselves “Maoists” because Mao himself made pragmatic compromises with the national bourgeoisie under the framework of New Democracy that today’s “Maoists” would call revisionist, liberal and a betrayal of socialism. Those who follow the real spirit of Mao’s teachings in China don’t call it “Maoism”, they call it Mao Zendong Thought. They view this as simply a part of Marxism-Leninism. China today takes a 70-30 view on Mao. 70% of what he did was good, 30% not so good. In particular they are very critical of the ultra-left tendencies of the chaotic Cultural Revolution era toward the end of Mao’s life.

          Now, personally i’d put it more around 80-20 or even 90-10, because i see a lot of value in certain elements of the Cultural Revolution, even if mistakes were made and ultimately the overall strategy was misguided. So it’s not like i’m unsympathetic to Maoists who admire that period. I understand where they’re coming from, even if it’s idealist. But we also have to acknowledge that the more moderate post-Mao policies of the CPC have been a resounding success in terms of improving the material conditions of hundreds of millions of people. Unfortunately Maoists refuse to see this reality. And like the Trotskyists, they make themselves unwitting accomplices of imperialism when they take their irrationally hostile stance against China and the other AES countries.

    • ☭CommieWolf☆@lemmygrad.ml
      23·
      11 days ago

      You may be confusing “Maoism” with “Marxism-Leninism Mao Zedong Thought” (MLMZT) which is the actual ideology of the People’s Republic of China. It’s confusing when you’re learning about it for the first time, and I do wish they had a more distinct name so as not to confuse sensible and successful ideologies with crackpot ultras so frequently.