Marxist-Leninist Groups
Encyclopedia
Marxist-Leninist Groups was the central organization of Finnish
Maoists. The MLR was active from 1973 until 1979 and it had supporters in few cities but it always remained a small current with fewer than 200 members. MLR had close contacts with the Chinese Communist Party and other Nordic
Maoist parties.
MLR was founded early in 1973 to unite local Maoist groups that had been founded around Finland. The Marxist-Leninist Society of Helsinki
(HMLS), the first such group, had been active since the late 1960s. The HMLS (like the whole MLR) was mainly active in the radical youth and student movement. The activities of the Maoists were closely followed by Suojelupoliisi
, KGB
and the Communist Party of Finland
(SKP), which fiercely condemned the anti-Soviet movement. The MLR was founded after the SKP began expulsions of Maoist cadre from its ranks.
The organization published two papers, theoretical Punakaarti (1969–1977) and agitational Lokakuu (1972–1978). MLR had book shops named Lokakuu (October) in Helsinki
, Turku
and Rauma
. In the series "Classics of Marxism" MLR published works by Stalin, Mao
, Hoxha
and Marx
.
Many of the members who disbanded the MLR in 1979, including its leader Matti Puolakka, went to form Alternative Movement Itu , which soon began moving away from Marxism-Leninism
.
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
Maoists. The MLR was active from 1973 until 1979 and it had supporters in few cities but it always remained a small current with fewer than 200 members. MLR had close contacts with the Chinese Communist Party and other Nordic
Nordic countries
The Nordic countries make up a region in Northern Europe and the North Atlantic which consists of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden and their associated territories, the Faroe Islands, Greenland and Åland...
Maoist parties.
MLR was founded early in 1973 to unite local Maoist groups that had been founded around Finland. The Marxist-Leninist Society of Helsinki
Helsinki
Helsinki is the capital and largest city in Finland. It is in the region of Uusimaa, located in southern Finland, on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, an arm of the Baltic Sea. The population of the city of Helsinki is , making it by far the most populous municipality in Finland. Helsinki is...
(HMLS), the first such group, had been active since the late 1960s. The HMLS (like the whole MLR) was mainly active in the radical youth and student movement. The activities of the Maoists were closely followed by Suojelupoliisi
Suojelupoliisi
The Finnish Security Intelligence Service is the intelligence agency of Finland in charge of national security. The agency's staff is composed of 220 policemen with additional training...
, KGB
KGB
The KGB was the commonly used acronym for the . It was the national security agency of the Soviet Union from 1954 until 1991, and was the premier internal security, intelligence, and secret police organization during that time.The State Security Agency of the Republic of Belarus currently uses the...
and the Communist Party of Finland
Communist Party of Finland
The Communist Party of Finland was a communist political party in Finland. The SKP was a section of Comintern and illegal in Finland until 1944.SKP did not participate in any elections with its own name. Instead, front organisations were used...
(SKP), which fiercely condemned the anti-Soviet movement. The MLR was founded after the SKP began expulsions of Maoist cadre from its ranks.
The organization published two papers, theoretical Punakaarti (1969–1977) and agitational Lokakuu (1972–1978). MLR had book shops named Lokakuu (October) in Helsinki
Helsinki
Helsinki is the capital and largest city in Finland. It is in the region of Uusimaa, located in southern Finland, on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, an arm of the Baltic Sea. The population of the city of Helsinki is , making it by far the most populous municipality in Finland. Helsinki is...
, Turku
Turku
Turku is a city situated on the southwest coast of Finland at the mouth of the Aura River. It is located in the region of Finland Proper. It is believed that Turku came into existence during the end of the 13th century which makes it the oldest city in Finland...
and Rauma
Rauma, Finland
Rauma is a town and municipality of ca. inhabitants on the west coast of Finland, north of Turku, and south of Pori. Granted town privileges on May 17, 1442 , Rauma is known of its high quality lace , and of the old wooden architecture of its centre , which is a Unesco world heritage...
. In the series "Classics of Marxism" MLR published works by Stalin, Mao
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...
, Hoxha
Enver Hoxha
Enver Halil Hoxha was a Marxist–Leninist revolutionary andthe leader of Albania from the end of World War II until his death in 1985, as the First Secretary of the Party of Labour of Albania...
and 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...
.
Many of the members who disbanded the MLR in 1979, including its leader Matti Puolakka, went to form Alternative Movement Itu , which soon began moving away from Marxism-Leninism
Marxism-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...
.