Marxist-Leninist Party, USA
Encyclopedia
The Marxist–Leninist Party (MLP) was the final incarnation of a series of communist
anti-revisionist
groups that began in the late 1960s and continued into the 1980s.
, group founded in early 1967 called Cleveland Draft Resistance Union. In 1968 they reorganized as the Workers Action Committee and broadened their focus from anti-war activities to community organizing
, strike support, and the study of Marxism
. They embraced Maoism
and developed a close relationship with the Canadian Communist Movement (Marxist-Leninist)
led by Hardial Bains
. In May 1968
the WAC attended the "North American Conference of Anti-Imperialist Youth" during which it reorganized again as the American Communist Workers’ Movement (Marxist-Leninist).
The ACWM emulated some of the strategy of the Hardial Bains, including attempting to launch a daily newspaper. This experiment - the only Maoist daily ever published in the United States - was the People’s America Daily News which lasted for 77 issues.
and Marxist–Leninist group in the United States
that published the paper Workers Advocate. During its history, it became a Hoxhaist
group, before turning away from backing Albania and attempting to advance a distinctive anti-revisionist trend in Marxism–Leninism. It was founded as the American Communist Workers Movement (Marxist–Leninist) in the 1960s as a Maoist
organization allied with the Canadian
Communist Party of Canada (Marxist–Leninist)
, CPC (M-L), and .
In about 1973 the group was renamed the Central Organization of US Marxist–Leninists and militantly opposed the police and fascism
, as well as socialists
and communists they considered "revisionist". The group continued to move with the CPC (M-L) from Maoism to Hoxhaism until in 1980 they adopted the name Marxist–Leninist Party USA and split with the Canadian group the following year, with those remaining loyal to the CPC (M-L) becoming the U.S. Marxist-Leninist Organization
.
The break with the CPC (M-L) led to the MLP beginning a reassessment of its politics, partially in an attempt to draw other anti-revisionists towards it, as many groups claiming anti-revisionism were moving to the right-wing. By the late 1980s the MLP had come to the conclusion that anti-revisionism meant that they had to reject the traditional support of the communist movement's positions from the time of the 1935 Congress
of the Comintern
onwards. This decision, however, led to an ideological impasse in the MLP, and at its fifth Congress in November 1993 it voted to dissolve itself. A number of activists in the MLP have continued work as the Communist Voice Organization
.
No further listing is given here of National Committee meetings, which are held periodically, only of broader national meetings.
In Spanish:
Communism
Communism is a social, political and economic ideology that aims at the establishment of a classless, moneyless, revolutionary and stateless socialist society structured upon common ownership of the means of production...
anti-revisionist
Anti-Revisionist
In the Marxist–Leninist movement, anti-revisionism refers to a doctrine which upholds the line of theory and practice associated with Karl Marx, Friedrich Engels, Vladimir Lenin and Joseph Stalin, and usually either Mao Zedong or Enver Hoxha as well...
groups that began in the late 1960s and continued into the 1980s.
History
The groups distant origins lay in a small, predominantly African AmericanAfrican American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
, group founded in early 1967 called Cleveland Draft Resistance Union. In 1968 they reorganized as the Workers Action Committee and broadened their focus from anti-war activities to community organizing
Community organizing
Community organizing is a process where people who live in proximity to each other come together into an organization that acts in their shared self-interest. A core goal of community organizing is to generate durable power for an organization representing the community, allowing it to influence...
, strike support, and the study of Marxism
Marxism
Marxism is an economic and sociopolitical worldview and method of socioeconomic inquiry that centers upon a materialist interpretation of history, a dialectical view of social change, and an analysis and critique of the development of capitalism. Marxism was pioneered in the early to mid 19th...
. They embraced Maoism
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...
and developed a close relationship with the Canadian Communist Movement (Marxist-Leninist)
Communist Party of Canada (Marxist–Leninist)
The Communist Party of Canada is a Canadian federal Marxist–Leninist political party.The party is registered with Elections Canada as the Marxist–Leninist Party of Canada...
led by Hardial Bains
Hardial Bains
Hardial Bains was the founder of the Communist Party of Canada and its leader until his death...
. In May 1968
May 1968
The May 1968 protest refers to a particular period in French history. It was historically significant for being the first wildcat general strike ever, and for being the largest general strike ever, bringing the economy of an advanced industrial country to a virtual standstill. It commenced with a...
the WAC attended the "North American Conference of Anti-Imperialist Youth" during which it reorganized again as the American Communist Workers’ Movement (Marxist-Leninist).
The ACWM emulated some of the strategy of the Hardial Bains, including attempting to launch a daily newspaper. This experiment - the only Maoist daily ever published in the United States - was the People’s America Daily News which lasted for 77 issues.
and Marxist–Leninist group in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
that published the paper Workers Advocate. During its history, it became a Hoxhaist
Hoxhaism
"Hoxhaism" is an informal term used to refer to a variant of anti-revisionist Marxism-Leninism that developed in the late 1970s due to a split in the Maoist movement, appearing after the ideological row between the Communist Party of China and the Party of Labour of Albania in 1978.The Albanians...
group, before turning away from backing Albania and attempting to advance a distinctive anti-revisionist trend in Marxism–Leninism. It was founded as the American Communist Workers Movement (Marxist–Leninist) in the 1960s as a 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...
organization allied with the Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
Communist Party of Canada (Marxist–Leninist)
Communist Party of Canada (Marxist–Leninist)
The Communist Party of Canada is a Canadian federal Marxist–Leninist political party.The party is registered with Elections Canada as the Marxist–Leninist Party of Canada...
, CPC (M-L), and .
In about 1973 the group was renamed the Central Organization of US Marxist–Leninists and militantly opposed the police and fascism
Fascism
Fascism is a radical authoritarian nationalist political ideology. Fascists seek to rejuvenate their nation based on commitment to the national community as an organic entity, in which individuals are bound together in national identity by suprapersonal connections of ancestry, culture, and blood...
, as well as socialists
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,...
and communists they considered "revisionist". The group continued to move with the CPC (M-L) from Maoism to Hoxhaism until in 1980 they adopted the name Marxist–Leninist Party USA and split with the Canadian group the following year, with those remaining loyal to the CPC (M-L) becoming the U.S. Marxist-Leninist Organization
U.S. Marxist-Leninist Organization
The U.S. Marxist-Leninist Organization or USMLO is an anti-revisionist communist party in the United States. Born out of the MLP-USA's split with the Communist Party of Canada , USMLO is the current U.S. referent to the CPC. The group publishes Voice of Revolution...
.
The break with the CPC (M-L) led to the MLP beginning a reassessment of its politics, partially in an attempt to draw other anti-revisionists towards it, as many groups claiming anti-revisionism were moving to the right-wing. By the late 1980s the MLP had come to the conclusion that anti-revisionism meant that they had to reject the traditional support of the communist movement's positions from the time of the 1935 Congress
Popular front
A popular front is a broad coalition of different political groupings, often made up of leftists and centrists. Being very broad, they can sometimes include centrist and liberal forces as well as socialist and communist groups...
of the Comintern
Comintern
The Communist International, abbreviated as Comintern, also known as the Third International, was an international communist organization initiated in Moscow during March 1919...
onwards. This decision, however, led to an ideological impasse in the MLP, and at its fifth Congress in November 1993 it voted to dissolve itself. A number of activists in the MLP have continued work as the Communist Voice Organization
Communist Voice Organization
The Communist Voice Organization is a United States communist group centered around Communist Voice magazine. The group also publishes Detroit Workers' Voice and a "revolutionary literary zine," Struggle. Its major spokesperson goes by the name Joseph Green.In 1981, as many similar groups moved to...
.
ACWM(ML) and COUSML
- American delegation to the North American Conference of Anti-Imperialist Youth in Regina, Canada, May 1969.
- ACWM(ML) conference: Problems of Proletarian Revolution, October 1972.
- Conference of American Marxist-Leninists, August 1973, and subsequent formation of Editorial Board of "Workers' Daily", organ of the COUSML.
- COUSML (Central Body) meeting, May 12-14, 1974 (beginning of COUSML reorganization).
- American delegation to the Third Consultative Conference of the CPC(ML), May 18-25, 1974. (It is expelled from the Consultative Conference by Hardial Bains for persisting in reorganization despite his advice, but continues with its own sessions and COUSML reorganization.)
- COUSML (Central Body) dissolves, and is replaced by the National Committee of the COUSML, May 27, 1974.
- Second Meeting of the National Committee, July 6-10, 1974 (completion of plans for COUSML reorganization).
No further listing is given here of National Committee meetings, which are held periodically, only of broader national meetings.
- COUSML Secretaries Conference, January 1976.
- COUSML Internal Conference of Fall 1977.
- COUSML Internal Conference of March 1979 (condemns Mao Zedong Thought -- resolution printed in Workers' Advocate of March 29, 1979).
- Preparatory Conference for the founding of the MLP, December 1979.
MLP,USA
- Founding Congress of the Marxist-Leninist Party, January, 1980 (Communique printed in Workers' Advocate, Jan. 15, 1980).
- First National Conference, Fall 1981 (resolutions printed in Workers' Advocate, November 5, 1981).
- Second Congress, Fall 1983 (resolutions printed in Workers' Advocate, January 1984).
- Second National Conference, Fall 1984 (resolutions printed in Workers' Advocate, Dec. 1984).
- Third National Conference, Fall 1986 (resolutions printed in Workers' Advocate, Nov. 15, 1986).
- Third Congress, Fall 1988 ((resolutions printed in Workers' Advocate, Dec. 1988).
- Fourth National Conference, Fall 1990 (resolutions printed in Workers Advocate, Dec. 1990).
- Fourth Congress, Fall 1992 (resolutions printed in Workers' Advocate, Dec. 1992).
- Fifth (Dissolution) Congress, November 1993.
National MLP periodicals
- The Workers' Advocate. Cleveland, (Chicago after 1981) July 2, 1969 - Nov. 1993
- El Estandarte Obrero 1978?-1993? (suplemento en Espanol de "the Workers' Advocate")
- The Workers' Advocate Supplement. 1985-1993
- The Internal Bulletin (The Information Bulletin from November 1987 on), 1974-1993
- Proletarian Internationalism (documents from the world anti-revisionist movement), 1979-1982?
- Internacionalismo Proletario 1979 - ?
Early short-lived national periodicals
- American Mass Line Cleveland Vol. 1, no. 1 (June 15, 1970)-v. 1, no. 9 (Jan. 27, 1971) Weekly; Biweekly from Aug. 3, 1970
- American Student, Cleveland, American Student Movement (Anti-Imperialist), vol. 1, no. 1 (Jan., 1970) - 1971?
- People's America Daily News Cleveland, Vol. 1, no. 1 (Oct. 1, 1970)-v. 1, no. 74 (Mar. 10, 1971)
- Black Revolutionary, The Black Revolutionary Party, Des Moines, IA, 1971
- Workers' Daily, 1973-1974.
Local periodicals
- Struggle, A Magazine of Proletarian Revolutionary Literature, a literary journal of the Detroit Branch, MLP,USA, 1984-present (after 1993, an independent journal, aligned since 1995 with the Communist Voice Organization)
- The West Indian Voice, Caribbean Progressive Study Group and then New York Metro Branch, MLP,USA, 1979?-late 1980s?
- The Patriot, Afro-Asian Latin American Peoples' Solidarity Forum (Seattle), 1972-1976?
- Detroit Worker Detroit Vol. 1, no. 1 (July 28, 1972)-?
- Chicago Worker Chicago Vol. 1, no. 1 (June 1, 1973)-?
- Seattle Student Seattle Vol. 1, no. 1 (Oct. 25, 1972)-1973
- Seattle Worker Seattle, 1972 - ?
- Similar worker or student publications or periodic local leaflets in such areas as New York City, Buffalo, Newerk, Boston, Providence (RI), Philadelphia, Denver, Louisville, and the San Francisco Bay area.
Books and pamphlets
- In defense of Marxism-Leninism: problems in the world communist movement in the period from the end of World War II to the death of Stalin, Workers' Advocate, May 1, 1984, 126pp.
- Our Differences with the Party of Labor of Albania, Workers' Advocate, March 20, 1984, 66pp.
- Documents of the Second Congress of the Marxist-Leninist Party, USA, Workers' Advocate, January 1, 1984, 98 pp.
- Zionism is racism in the service of imperialism, MLP,USA, June 1983, 108 pp.
- U.S. Imperialism, Get Out of El Salvador!, MLP,USA, September 1981, 44 pp.
- The truth about the relations between the Marxist-Leninist Party of the USA and the Communist Party of Canada (M-L), Part 1, The Workers' Advocate, June 30, 1981, 104 pp.
- The Citizens Party is nothing but warmed-over Carter stew, MLP,USA, September 1980, 36pp.
- The struggle for the party versus Chinese revisionism: U.S. neo-revisionism as the American expression of the international opportunist trend of Chinese revisionism, MLP,USA, August 1980, 74 pp.
- No to U.S. Imperialist War Preparations!, MLP, USA, June 1980, 82 pp..
- The 'Kennedy alternative' is the same program of starvation, fascism and war, MLP,USA, May 1980.
- Mao, Browder and Social-Democracy: Two articles exposing Chinese revisionism and Mao Zedong Thought, MLP,USA, March 1980, 50 pp.
- Dialectics of the development of Nelson Perry's head; a refutation of the counter-revolutionary line of the so-called "Communist League" Chicago: COUSML, 1974 (link only contains part 1)
- Afro-American people: advance the struggle against racial discrimination and violent repression! Seattle, Wash: The Workers Movement?, 1975
- History of the Afro-American people's struggle in Seattle Seattle : Seattle Branch, COUSML, September 15, 1976
- Mao Tsetung thought versus opportunism: against the social-chauvinism of the October League : against "The Guardian's" revisionist yellow journalism : on the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution Chicago: COUSML, 1976
- Carter's energy fraud: fake shortage to impose sky-rocketing prices and stockpile for war ; articles and leaflets on the energy crisis of U.S. imperialism Chicago: COUSML, 1977
- Hail the 10th Anniversary of the Great Detroit Rebellion of the Afro-American People against Racial Discrimination and Violent Repression: July 23, 1967 - July 23, 1977 Detroit: COUSML, 1978
- The Class Essence of Inflation in the Capitalist and Revisionist World Dhimiter Mandro and Lulzim Hana, reprinted from Albania Today, Chicago: COUSML, 1978
- Hail the founding of the Workers' and Peasants' Communist Party of Iran! Chicago: COUSML, 1978
- The Social-chauvinist theory of "three worlds" denies revolution and apologizes for neo-colonialism Chicago: COUSML, 1978
- Why did the "RCP, USA" split? Chicago: COUSML, 1978
- Combat the fascist anti-busing movement with active resistance Chicago: COUSML, 1978
- Reply to the open letter of the MLOC from the National Executive Committee of the Central Organization of U.S. Marxist-Leninists Chicago: COUSML, 1978
- Carter bares his fascist fangs: seven articles exposing the growing fascism under the Carter administration Chicago: COUSML, 1978
- How to advance the struggle against social-chauvinism Chicago: COUSML, 1978
- Nixon's wage-price controls were a fascist, anti-working class measure prepared for and applauded by the Democrats and labor traitors Chicago: COUSML, 1978
- Against Social-Democratic Infiltration of the Marxist-Leninist Movement: A study of the origin, history and present role of the social-democrat Barry Weisberg and his MLOC/"CPUSA(M-L)", COUSML, May 1979.
- Soaring profits show how inflation impoverishes the poor for the benefit of the rich Chicago: COUSML, 1979
- Step up the fight against the nuclear program of U.S. imperialism! documents of Chicago Conference Against U.S. Imperialism's Nuclear Energy Program, November 3, 1979. Chicago: COUSML, Chicago Branch,
- Mao Tsetung and Mao Tsetung thought are anti-Marxist-Leninist and revisionist [Chicago, Ill.] : COUSML, 1979
- Can the Chinese revolution be called a proletarian revolution? by Enver Hoxha [S.l.] : COUSML, 1979
- Imperialism and the revolution by Enver Hoxha [S.l.] : COUSML, 1979
- Reflections on China: extracts from the political diary by Enver Hoxha 4 v. in 1 Chicago COUSML, 1979
- Latin America: A clear Orientation and a Bright Future: Documents from Latin American Communist Parties, Afro-Asian Latin American Peoples' Solidarity Forum (Seattle), February 1976
- Oppose Racial Discrimination! Unite and Fight for Low-Income Housing to Preserve the International District!, Afro-Asian Latin American Peoples' Solidarity Forum (Seattle), June 1975
In Spanish:
- Sobre la Lucha Revolucionaria del Pueblo de Nacionalidad Mexicana de los EEUU, Chicago: PML,EUA, 1981.
- La Nueva Estrategia Browderiana del 'CPUSA/ML' de Weisberg,, Partido Marxista-Leninista, EUA, agosto de 1981.
- ¡No! Al programa de energia nuclear del imperialismo yangui, Chicago: COUSML, 1979.
- Mao Tsetung y el pensamiento Mao Tsetung son antimarxista-leninistas y revisionistas, Chicago: COUSML, 1979.
- La administracion de Carter muestra sus colmillos fascistas, Chicago: COUSML,1978.
- Los controles salario-precio de Nixon fueron una medida fascista y anti-obrera, preparada y aplaudida por los democrats y los traidores laborales, Chicago: COUSML, 1978.
- Declaración conjunta del Partido Comunista de Alemania (m-l), del Partido Comunista de España (m-l), del Partido Comunista de Grecia (m-l), del Partido Comunista de Italia (m-l), del Partido Comunista Portugues (R) Chicago: COUSML, 1977.
- Declaracion conjunta de partidos Marxista-Leninistas de America Latina. Chicago: COUSML, Noviembre de 1976.
Some key articles
- In defense of Leninist united front tactics: on the backward turn at the 7th Congress of the CI in 1935, Workers' Advocate Supplement, May 1, 1985
- Against the Trotskyist critique of the 7th Congress, Workers' Advocate Supplement, May 1, 1985
- The CPUSA and the unemployed movement of the 1930's, Workers' Advocate Supplement, February 15, 1990
- The CPUSA's work in auto and the change in line of the mid-1930's, Workers' Advocate Supplement, March 20, 1987
- Drawing the working class into the political movement, Workers' Advocate Supplement, February 15, 1987
- The black national question in the US, Workers' Advocate Supplement, 1985
See also
- Communist Voice OrganizationCommunist Voice OrganizationThe Communist Voice Organization is a United States communist group centered around Communist Voice magazine. The group also publishes Detroit Workers' Voice and a "revolutionary literary zine," Struggle. Its major spokesperson goes by the name Joseph Green.In 1981, as many similar groups moved to...
- U.S. Marxist-Leninist OrganizationU.S. Marxist-Leninist OrganizationThe U.S. Marxist-Leninist Organization or USMLO is an anti-revisionist communist party in the United States. Born out of the MLP-USA's split with the Communist Party of Canada , USMLO is the current U.S. referent to the CPC. The group publishes Voice of Revolution...
- New Communist MovementNew Communist MovementThe New Communist Movement ' was a Marxist-Leninist political movement of the 1970s and 1980s in the United States. The term refers to a specific trend in the U.S. New Left which sought inspiration in the experience of the Russian Revolution of 1917, the Chinese Revolution, and the Cuban...
External links
- On the roots of the Communist Voice Organization and the Chicago Workers' Voice group: Distortions in a history of the Marxist-Leninist Party, USA by Frank, Seattle. Communist Voice #21, August 15, 1999.
- Reminiscences of the Birth of our Trend by Tim Hall