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submitted 4 days ago by yogthos@lemmy.ml to c/memes@lemmy.ml
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[-] verstra@programming.dev 1 points 4 days ago

To be honest, I know little about Mao and beginnings of PRC - I'm quite ignorant about how much of an "absolute leader" he was.

But I do believe that idolizing a person and concentration of power are dangerous to democracy.

And it's interesting how much responses I got on this topic.

[-] Cowbee@lemmy.ml 12 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago)

Among Marxists, we say "no investigation, no right to speak." This quote is from Mao, and the importance of upholding it is to not contribute to a miasma of misinformation. If you don't know about Mao, then don't speak as though you understand him and his role in the history of Socialism.

This is reflected in the ideas you claim about "idolization." Mao held immense respect among the people for successfully bringing the revolution to victory and implementing many great economic decisions during the early and middle parts of his political career. This creates "idolization," but he wasn't an absolute leader - he lost political influence for his mistakes during the Cultural Revolution and his reputation tarnished, as well as his foreign policy towards the middle and latter parts with respect to Cambodia and Vietnam.

"Concentration of power" isn't what happened. With the rise of the Communists, power was spread more evenly among the people, rather than concentrated in the Landlords, Bourgeoisie, Petite Bourgeoisie, and Kuomintang. The implementation of the People's Democratic Dictatorship resulted in more direct democracy for the peasantry and proletariat, as well as the implementation of the Mass Line as the theoretical basis of communication between the party and the masses.

I can offer recommendations if you want to learn more about Marxism-Leninism and Marxism-Leninism-MZT. I think your analysis of Socialism will be improved if you do more reading and research, and less discussion of concepts and subjects you aren't familiar with. That's why you got the response you did.

[-] verstra@programming.dev 5 points 3 days ago

Sure, do recommend - I'd need a basic overview, but not too deep, as I don't have enough motivation for in-depth review of all socialist governments in the last two centuries.

[-] Cowbee@lemmy.ml 8 points 3 days ago

I made an introductory Marxist-Leninist reading list you can check out for theory, but it's in-depth. Dessalines has a Crash-Course and FAQ that I like if you want something short and to the point.

this post was submitted on 09 Jun 2025
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