Following is the fifth part of an eleven-part series of study columns on the theory of Marxism-Leninism-Mao Zedong Thought.
The study series was originally developed for study groups conducted by the League of Revolutionary Struggle (M-L) and is the product of a number of years of practice in leading study groups in Marxism-Leninism among workers and students.
Among the topics covered in the series are classes and class struggle; the crisis of capitalism and the inevitability of socialism; imperialism; the national question; the state and revolution; the communist party; and Marxist philosophy.
History of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union (Bolsheviks), Chapter 6, Sections 1-3.
Mao Zedong, “The Chinese Revolution and the Chinese Communist Party,” Selected Works, Vol. II, pp. 305-314.
(Supplementary Readings: Beijing Review, Chairman Mao’s Theory of the Three Worlds is a Major Contribution to Marxism-Leninism; League of Revolutionary Struggle, Study Guide on the Theory of the Three Worlds.)
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Communists have always emphasized that the revolution in any particular country takes place in an international environment. This is even more true today, as the world is characterized by the growing danger of war and international upheaval. The history of revolutionary socialism shows that, in fact, war and revolution are closely connected. The Russian October Revolution of 1917 occurred in the midst of World War I, and one of the main demands of the workers was for peace and an end to Russian involvement in the imperialist conflict. The Chinese Communist Party grew tremendously during World War II.
The communists of Russia and China succeeded in their respective revolutions because they based their programs, strategies and tactics on a correct assessment of the international forces and trends at the time.
In today’s world, the international situation is quite complex, but communists must sort out the various forces to determine the path forward.
Mao Zedong developed the theory of the three worlds to help define the main political forces in the world today and provide a guide to dealing with the international situation. Mao put forward that the two superpowers, the U.S. and the U.S.S.R., are the first world. The leaders of the Soviet Union, which was once the world’s first socialist state, have betrayed socialism and turned the country into a social-imperialist one — socialism in words, imperialism in deeds. The two superpowers are locked in a deadly battle for world domination, which is leading the two to war. The Soviet Union in particular is the more aggressive of the superpowers and the main threat to peace.
The second world is the lesser capitalist countries, which themselves are threatened and interfered with by the two superpowers. The countries of Europe, Japan, Canada, New Zealand and Australia are in this category.
The third world is composed of the remaining countries and nations, the vast majority of the world’s population. These are the oppressed countries and nations, and the socialist countries, and they form the main force against the two superpowers.
Mao Zedong advocated forming an international united front against the two superpowers, especially against the Soviet Union. It is a crucial task today to frustrate the war plans of the superpowers, and especially to oppose the Soviet Union’s aggression in order to advance the struggle of the people of the world for liberation and emancipation, and delay as much as possible the outbreak of war.
In the U.S., communists and progressive people have a responsibility to oppose U.S. imperialism’s war moves and interference in other countries, as well as to support the efforts of other peoples to oppose Soviet domination.
1. Why is war inevitable under imperialism? What are the different types of wars and what should be the proletariat’s attitude toward these various wars?
2. Why must the revolutionary movement in any particular country be analyzed in the context of the world situation? What errors result if this is not done?
3. Why should the movements of the oppressed nations be considered a part of the world proletarian revolution in this era? What effect has imperialism had on the countries of the third world?