Communist Workers Organisation (Netherlands)
Encyclopedia
The Communist Workers Organisation (in Dutch
: Kommunistische Arbeidersorganisatie, abbreviated KAO) was a communist group in the Netherlands
. It was founded
as the Marxist-Leninist Rotterdam Group (Groep Rotterdam marxistisch-leninistisch in March 1972 by a group of dissidents from the Communist Unity Movement of the Netherlands (marxist-leninist)
(KEN(ml)), following the departure of the 'Proletarian' wing of the KEN(ml) in October 1971. (This proletarian wing would later evolve into the Socialist Party
.)
The Groep Rotterdam rapidly changed its name to Communists Circle of Rijnmond (marxist-leninist) (Kommunisten Kring Rijnmond (marxistisch-leninistisch), abbreviated KKR(ml)). According to a Dutch internal security service
(BVD) estimate the KKR(ml) had 17 members in 1972.
In 1974 KKR(ml) renamed itself to the Communist Organisation of Rotterdam and Surroundings (marxist-leninist) (Kommunistische Organisatie Rotterdam en Omstreken (marxistisch-leninistisch), abbreviated KORO(ml)). The following year the name of the organization was changed once again, now to KAO. The shift from KORO(ml) to KAO marked, in the understanding of the group itself, a step from being a local organisation to a national party-building one.
The same year, the KAO was engaged in unity talks held amongst the Dutch fringe left. This included the KEN(ml), the organisation of which the KAO was a split, as well as several other organisations that
had split from the KEN(ml):
Excluded from these talks were the Socialist Party (that had moved away from the Maoist
orthodoxy), Red Youth
(which had developed a terroristic orientation) and the Marxist-Leninist Party of the Netherlands
(a BVD proxy).
GML excluded itself from the process due to their rejection of unity with KEN(ml), and KEN(ml) could not arrive at a comprise with the other groups due to their persistence on claiming hegemony over the other factions. In 1978 KAO merged together with the two remaining factions, the BNML and KKB(ml) to form the Communist Workers Organisation (marxist-leninist)
(KAO(ml)).
Dutch language
Dutch is a West Germanic language and the native language of the majority of the population of the Netherlands, Belgium, and Suriname, the three member states of the Dutch Language Union. Most speakers live in the European Union, where it is a first language for about 23 million and a second...
: Kommunistische Arbeidersorganisatie, abbreviated KAO) was a communist group in the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
. It was founded
as the Marxist-Leninist Rotterdam Group (Groep Rotterdam marxistisch-leninistisch in March 1972 by a group of dissidents from the Communist Unity Movement of the Netherlands (marxist-leninist)
Communist Unity Movement of the Netherlands (marxist-leninist)
Communist Unity Movement of the Netherlands was a communist organization in the Netherlands....
(KEN(ml)), following the departure of the 'Proletarian' wing of the KEN(ml) in October 1971. (This proletarian wing would later evolve into the Socialist Party
Socialist Party (Netherlands)
The Socialist Party is a democratic socialist political party in the Netherlands. After the 2006 general election, the Socialist Party became one of the major parties of the Netherlands with 25 seats of 150, an increase of 16 seats. The party was in opposition against the fourth Balkenende cabinet...
.)
The Groep Rotterdam rapidly changed its name to Communists Circle of Rijnmond (marxist-leninist) (Kommunisten Kring Rijnmond (marxistisch-leninistisch), abbreviated KKR(ml)). According to a Dutch internal security service
BVD
BVD is a brand of men's underwear, which are commonly referred to as "BVDs." BVD stands for Bradley, Voorhees & Day, the New York City firm that initially manufactured underwear of this name for both men and women. BVD is now only for men. It was founded in 1876 and named for its three founders.-...
(BVD) estimate the KKR(ml) had 17 members in 1972.
In 1974 KKR(ml) renamed itself to the Communist Organisation of Rotterdam and Surroundings (marxist-leninist) (Kommunistische Organisatie Rotterdam en Omstreken (marxistisch-leninistisch), abbreviated KORO(ml)). The following year the name of the organization was changed once again, now to KAO. The shift from KORO(ml) to KAO marked, in the understanding of the group itself, a step from being a local organisation to a national party-building one.
The same year, the KAO was engaged in unity talks held amongst the Dutch fringe left. This included the KEN(ml), the organisation of which the KAO was a split, as well as several other organisations that
had split from the KEN(ml):
- the Group of Marxist-Leninists/Red DawnGroup of Marxist-Leninists/Red DawnGroup of Marxist–Leninists/Red Dawn is a maoist group in the Netherlands. GML/Rode Morgen was founded in 1977, as a merger of different groups of individuals expelled from the Communist Unity Movement of the Netherlands , namely the so-called 'Group of Three', 'Group of Five' and 'Group of Six'...
(GML), - the Communist Circle of Breda (marxist-leninist)Communist Circle of Breda (marxist-leninist)Communist Circle of Breda was a communist group in Breda, the Netherlands...
(KKB(ml)) - the League of Dutch Marxist-LeninistsLeague of Dutch Marxist-LeninistsLeague of Dutch Marxist-Leninists was a communist organisation in the Netherlands.By the time of the 21st party congress of the Communist Party of the Netherlands in 1964 two pro-China fractions existed inside the party. One was the Marxist-Leninist Centre in Rotterdam...
(BNML).
Excluded from these talks were the Socialist Party (that had moved away from the Maoist
Maoism
Maoism, also known as the Mao Zedong Thought , is claimed by Maoists as an anti-Revisionist form of Marxist communist theory, derived from the teachings of the Chinese political leader Mao Zedong . Developed during the 1950s and 1960s, it was widely applied as the political and military guiding...
orthodoxy), Red Youth
Red Youth (Netherlands)
Red Youth was a revolutionary organization in the Netherlands. It originated in the group around the periodical Rode Jeugd, which had been started by the pro-China Rode Vlag-grouping in 1966...
(which had developed a terroristic orientation) and the Marxist-Leninist Party of the Netherlands
Marxist-Leninist Party of the Netherlands
The Marxist-Leninist Party of the Netherlands was a fake pro-China communist party in the Netherlands set up by the Dutch secret service BVD to develop contacts with the Chinese government for espionage purposes. It existed from 1968 to the early 1990s...
(a BVD proxy).
GML excluded itself from the process due to their rejection of unity with KEN(ml), and KEN(ml) could not arrive at a comprise with the other groups due to their persistence on claiming hegemony over the other factions. In 1978 KAO merged together with the two remaining factions, the BNML and KKB(ml) to form the Communist Workers Organisation (marxist-leninist)
Communist Workers Organisation (marxist-leninist)
Communist Workers Organisation was a communist group in the Netherlands. It was founded in March 1978, through the merger of the League of Dutch Marxist-Leninists , the Communist Workers Organisation and the Communist Circle of Breda...
(KAO(ml)).