Marxism-Leninism
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Marxism-Leninism, a political ideology based upon Marxist theory and the theory and practice developed by Vladimir Lenin; see Leninism.
Marxism-Leninism as a distinct ideology was formulated in the Soviet Union briefly following Lenin's death. It was proclaimed to be a more advanced stage of Marxism. It was adopted as as the ideology of the Comintern and of communist parties around the world.
After the Sino-Soviet split, the Chinese Communist Party challenged that the pro-USSR communist parties had deviated from Marxism-Leninism and turned revionist following the death of Stalin. In China, the claim that Mao had "adapted Marxism-Leninism to Chinese conditions" evolved into the idea that he had updated it in a fundamental way applying to the world as a whole; consequently, the term "Marxism-Leninism-Mao Zedong Thought" (commonly known as Maoism) was increasingly used to describe the official Chinese state ideology. The Communist Party of Peru (often referred to as "Shining Path" in the international press) subsequently coined the term Marxism-Leninism-Maoism, emphasizing their belief that Mao had correctly applied Marxism-Leninism and, in the process, developed the third stage of communist science. Maoist parties today believe that the current leadership of China has abandoned Maoism.
Current usage
Most Communist parties continue to regard Marxism-Leninism as their basic ideology, although many have modified it to adapt to new political conditions. Several Communist parties, especially those previously associated with Eurocommunism, have distanced themselves from the concept of Marxism-Leninism and in many cases have omitted it from their official documents. One example was the Communist Party of Spain, who under the leadership of Santiago Carrillo substituted Marxism-Leninism for 'Revolutionary Marxist'. Some parties have started identifying themselves as 'Marxist, Leninist' or 'Marxist and Leninist' rather than Marxist-Leninist. The difference in such cases is that the negative historical connotations of Marxism-Leninism are avoided.
In party names, "Marxist-Leninist" is normally used by a Communist party that wishes to distinguish itself from another Communist party in the same country. Most often, parties who place the term "Marxist-Leninist" in their official name, such as Maoist parties, follow the anti-revisionist tradition.
Though Communist parties have used the term in different ways, "Marxism-Leninism" has often been used to refer to the general ideology of any Communist state.
