CHINA AND MAO'S THOUGHT

The raisng of Mao's thought to the level of pure ideology tended, however, to negate the very philosophical basis on which his theory was founded. The strictly docrinaire approach of the Chinese Communists from 1921 to 1927 had Mao realize that Marxism-Leninism could be useful only as a theoretical tool. He originally promoted his own theought, therefore, as an example of Marxism.Leninism put into practice. Neither Marx nor Lenin, after all, had had a full opportunity to implement their own theories on the ground. By 1960s, however, many of Mao's supporters were going further and claiming universality of his theory. When Hua Guofeng legitimized his leadership position after Mao's death in 1976 through a strictly docrinaire appoach to Mao Zedong thought, Den Xiaoping echoed Mao's rebellion against the docrtinaire approach of the 1920s by promoting a more practical ideology.
Casalino Pierluigi, on January 6th 2014