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Communist Party of Great Britain (Marxist-Leninist)
Encyclopedia
The Communist Party of Great Britain (Marxist–Leninist) is a British
communist party
which has a close relationship with the Workers' Party of Korea
.
or the Indian Workers Association (GB).
The party is led by writer and businessman Harpal Brar
, who has been editor of the Marxist-Leninist journal Lalkar
(formerly the organ of the Indian Workers Association (GB)) since 1979 and has written books on many aspects of Marxism (see his entry for full listing). The party's vice-chairman and international secretary is Ella Rule. The general secretary is Zane Carpenter and Keith Bennett is another leading member of the party.
as they perceive it was developed by Karl Marx
, Friedrich Engels
, Vladimir Lenin
, Joseph Stalin
and Mao Zedong
. They consider that, after the death of Stalin, revisionists in the Communist Party of the Soviet Union
leadership undermined socialism
to the point where the Soviet Union
collapsed. The party places emphasis on the importance of theory and education.
, the People's Republic of China
and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. Many CPGB-ML members were also active in the Stop the War Coalition
until the party's expulsion in October 2011, their respective trade unions and pensioners' campaigns.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
communist party
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
which has a close relationship with the Workers' Party of Korea
Workers' Party of Korea
The Workers' Party of Korea is the ruling Communist party of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea , commonly known as North Korea. It is also called the Korean Workers' Party...
.
History
The party was founded on July 3, 2004 in London. Many of the founding members had previously been members of the Association of Communist WorkersAssociation of Communist Workers
The Association of Communist Workers was an anti-revisionist political party in the United Kingdom.It originated in 1969 as a split from the Revolutionary Marxist-Leninist League around Harpal Brar. Initially regarded as Maoist, it spent time working in the women's movement through its "Union of...
or the Indian Workers Association (GB).
The party is led by writer and businessman Harpal Brar
Harpal Brar
Harpal Brar is an Indian-born communist politician, writer and businessman based in Britain.Born in Muktsar, Punjab, British India, Brar has lived and worked in Britain since 1962, first as a student and lecturer in law at Harrow College of Higher Education , and later in the textile business...
, who has been editor of the Marxist-Leninist journal Lalkar
Lalkar
Lalkar is a London-based bi-monthly political magazine. The word ‘lalkar’ means ‘challenge’ in Punjabi and the expression ‘lal kar’ means ‘red work’....
(formerly the organ of the Indian Workers Association (GB)) since 1979 and has written books on many aspects of Marxism (see his entry for full listing). The party's vice-chairman and international secretary is Ella Rule. The general secretary is Zane Carpenter and Keith Bennett is another leading member of the party.
Ideology
The CPGB-ML adheres to Marxism-LeninismMarxism-Leninism
Marxism–Leninism is a communist ideology, officially based upon the theories of Marxism and Vladimir Lenin, that promotes the development and creation of a international communist society through the leadership of a vanguard party over a revolutionary socialist state that represents a dictatorship...
as they perceive it was developed by Karl Marx
Karl Marx
Karl Heinrich Marx was a German philosopher, economist, sociologist, historian, journalist, and revolutionary socialist. His ideas played a significant role in the development of social science and the socialist political movement...
, Friedrich Engels
Friedrich Engels
Friedrich Engels was a German industrialist, social scientist, author, political theorist, philosopher, and father of Marxist theory, alongside Karl Marx. In 1845 he published The Condition of the Working Class in England, based on personal observations and research...
, Vladimir Lenin
Vladimir Lenin
Vladimir Ilyich Lenin was a Russian Marxist revolutionary and communist politician who led the October Revolution of 1917. As leader of the Bolsheviks, he headed the Soviet state during its initial years , as it fought to establish control of Russia in the Russian Civil War and worked to create a...
, Joseph Stalin
Joseph Stalin
Joseph Vissarionovich Stalin was the Premier of the Soviet Union from 6 May 1941 to 5 March 1953. He was among the Bolshevik revolutionaries who brought about the October Revolution and had held the position of first General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union's Central Committee...
and Mao Zedong
Mao Zedong
Mao Zedong, also transliterated as Mao Tse-tung , and commonly referred to as Chairman Mao , was a Chinese Communist revolutionary, guerrilla warfare strategist, Marxist political philosopher, and leader of the Chinese Revolution...
. They consider that, after the death of Stalin, revisionists in the Communist Party of the Soviet Union
Communist Party of the Soviet Union
The Communist Party of the Soviet Union was the only legal, ruling political party in the Soviet Union and one of the largest communist organizations in the world...
leadership undermined socialism
Socialism
Socialism is an economic system characterized by social ownership of the means of production and cooperative management of the economy; or a political philosophy advocating such a system. "Social ownership" may refer to any one of, or a combination of, the following: cooperative enterprises,...
to the point where the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
collapsed. The party places emphasis on the importance of theory and education.
Campaigning
It takes a keen interest in international affairs and supports the Irish Republican movement, the Iraqi Resistance, CubaCuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
, the People's Republic of China
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. Many CPGB-ML members were also active in the Stop the War Coalition
Stop the War Coalition
The Stop the War Coalition is a United Kingdom group set up on 21 September 2001 that campaigns against what it believes are unjust wars....
until the party's expulsion in October 2011, their respective trade unions and pensioners' campaigns.