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Colorful Classics #20
Basic Principles of Marxism-Leninism: A Primer
Basic Principles of Marxism-Leninism: A Primer was written by Jose Maria Sison from his prison cell in 1981-1982. It is a comprehensive and modern introduction to the study of the three components of Marxism.
172 pages, Paperback
Published January 1, 2020
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599 people want to read
About the author
Jose Maria Sison
69 books84 followersProf. Jose Maria Sison is a Filipino patriot, a proletarian revolutionary and internationalist.
He is a Filipino statesman, known for his experience in and knowledge of the people's democratic government and revolutionary forces in the Philippines. He is sometimes consulted by high officials of foreign governments and by presidents, senators, congressmen and local officials of the Philippine reactionary government concerning peace negotiations with the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) and related matters.
He is recognized as the leader of the Filipino people's movement for national liberation and democracy in the last 50 years. The celebration of this coincides with that of the 40th anniversaries of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and the New People's Army (NPA).
After the destruction of the armed revolutionary movement in the early 1950s in the Philippines, he was chiefly responsible for the resurgence of the anti-imperialist and anti-feudal mass movement in the Philippines since 1959. He was the founding Chairman of the Central Committee of the CPP, 1968-77. He is one of the world's leading authorities on the theory and practice of Marxism-Leninism and Maoism, on revolutionary movements in Asia and on the international communist movement. He has been a recognized poet since 1962 and awardee of the Southeast Asia WRITE Award for poetry, 1986.
He is a Filipino statesman, known for his experience in and knowledge of the people's democratic government and revolutionary forces in the Philippines. He is sometimes consulted by high officials of foreign governments and by presidents, senators, congressmen and local officials of the Philippine reactionary government concerning peace negotiations with the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) and related matters.
He is recognized as the leader of the Filipino people's movement for national liberation and democracy in the last 50 years. The celebration of this coincides with that of the 40th anniversaries of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and the New People's Army (NPA).
After the destruction of the armed revolutionary movement in the early 1950s in the Philippines, he was chiefly responsible for the resurgence of the anti-imperialist and anti-feudal mass movement in the Philippines since 1959. He was the founding Chairman of the Central Committee of the CPP, 1968-77. He is one of the world's leading authorities on the theory and practice of Marxism-Leninism and Maoism, on revolutionary movements in Asia and on the international communist movement. He has been a recognized poet since 1962 and awardee of the Southeast Asia WRITE Award for poetry, 1986.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
February 7, 2021
A concise overview to the basics of Marxism-Leninism. A classic!
November 7, 2021
concise and informative. will be returning to this for further study in the future
January 10, 2023
An excellent summary of the main ideas and principles of Marxism-Leninism.
Jose Maria Sison (Joma) of course presents this from a Mao Zedong Thought (MZT) perspective, but it's still very useful. I think it's definitely a great introductory book for people interested in Leninism and for any MLs out there, this is a great source for revision.
I didn't learn too much from this, but Joma and this translation help with some ideas being presented more clearly. I also liked hearing the more MZT thoughts on the Soviet Union. I didn't agree with it all, but the idea that socialist countries would proclaim communism due to their successes in significantly increasing productive forces alone is definitely something to think about.
This is mainly theoretical and historical, so there isn't anything on applying these ideas to the Philippines at the time Joma was writing this nor will you find anything in terms of considering how to apply what Joma means by Mao's contributions being how to tackle revisionism (and chauvinism). You can't just read this on its own and be satisfied, this is a primer.
As a primer, it works very well though. I'd be curious to read more from Jose Maria Sison.
Jose Maria Sison (Joma) of course presents this from a Mao Zedong Thought (MZT) perspective, but it's still very useful. I think it's definitely a great introductory book for people interested in Leninism and for any MLs out there, this is a great source for revision.
I didn't learn too much from this, but Joma and this translation help with some ideas being presented more clearly. I also liked hearing the more MZT thoughts on the Soviet Union. I didn't agree with it all, but the idea that socialist countries would proclaim communism due to their successes in significantly increasing productive forces alone is definitely something to think about.
This is mainly theoretical and historical, so there isn't anything on applying these ideas to the Philippines at the time Joma was writing this nor will you find anything in terms of considering how to apply what Joma means by Mao's contributions being how to tackle revisionism (and chauvinism). You can't just read this on its own and be satisfied, this is a primer.
As a primer, it works very well though. I'd be curious to read more from Jose Maria Sison.
May 12, 2021
This is probably the most concise and 'easiest' introduction to Marxist-Leninist thoughts I ever read. The author being a Filipino freedom fighter makes this book even better. The fact that he wrote this while in prison is so amazing. I am always more receptive toward Marxist ideas hold by Black communists and other communist of color than white and European communists because their struggles are much more familiar and more close to me.
Thank you, Jose Maria Sison. I hope you are well wherever you are.
Thank you, Jose Maria Sison. I hope you are well wherever you are.
December 30, 2022
biblical
October 27, 2022
ganz gute einführung in den ml, in der auch vieles von mao erklärt/angeführt wird. was ich einerseits super, andererseits absolut verwirrend fand: ohne vorankündigung kamen immer wieder historische passagen, vor allem über china und die sowjetunion. zwar hat das meist die fragestellung gut veranschaulicht, aber die sprünge zwischen „theoretischer“ erklärung und historischem beispiel (wenn man das so nennen kann) waren oft zu plötzliche brüche oder einschübe.
May 2, 2023
Helpful
September 28, 2023
Comprehensive introduction and overview of Marxism-Leninism, some of the historical accounts and analysis of China and the Soviet Union that are used as evidence feel out of place, I feel like they should have been put in a different chapter of their own.
September 2, 2020
Written from his prison cell in 1981-1982, it’s a comprehensive introduction to the study of Marxism from someone who has spent his life fighting for communism.
The text itself was smuggled out of a prison cell in 1982 and reflects the time in which it was written, at a point at which debates around Mao Zedong Thought were still taking place, Sison also warns of the ‘capitalist integrated reforms’ taking place in China.
Despite the developments in his thinking that have taken place since, It is still a very interesting and relevant text, and a great introduction that retains an incredibly readable approach
The text itself was smuggled out of a prison cell in 1982 and reflects the time in which it was written, at a point at which debates around Mao Zedong Thought were still taking place, Sison also warns of the ‘capitalist integrated reforms’ taking place in China.
Despite the developments in his thinking that have taken place since, It is still a very interesting and relevant text, and a great introduction that retains an incredibly readable approach
August 1, 2021
Much of this is basic marxism and a decent overview of the development of capitalism. The downsides are his claims that the Soviet Union was a socialist state that was capitalist, social imperialist, social fascist, and state capitalist. None of this is explained or theorized, mostly just claimed. I disagree with all of it, but it would have been interesting to at least see an explanation for why this was the case beyond claims of “Khrushchevite revisionism”. I think it really comes down to much of maoism being idealism packaged in marxist language
May 20, 2022
Hegel- Idealist who expanded on dialectics but believed things came from the ideal rather than the material.
Feuerbach- Materialist that took Hegelian Dialectics and said that material affects ideal but did not mention how it is two way, with ideal reasserting the material. (Base and Superstructure in Marxism).
Feuerbach- Materialist that took Hegelian Dialectics and said that material affects ideal but did not mention how it is two way, with ideal reasserting the material. (Base and Superstructure in Marxism).
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May 18, 2025Despois do Hanecker faiseme un pouco mais tosco pero bue tendo en conta que o fixo en prisión a saber canto tiña de acceso a libros e referencias mais aló da súa memoria. Para observar certos elementos xerais esta ben pero quedaseme un tanto superficial.
O libro ao meu ver debería cambiar de titulo pois non se queda na análise Marxista-Lenilista senón que toma a Mao, como debe ser, como o terceiro gran pensador do marxismo. Gústame moito o seu enfoque das etapas entre marxismo clásico, a etapa lenilista e a do seu presente onde a vangarda é Mao pois cada un dos seus enfoques ofrece as ferraementas de construción socialista. Tamén como partindo desta retícula do final acepta os erros do stalinismo, principalmente a idea de que o socialismo debía ser pilotado dende un país. O xiro que fai Jrushchov aínda que positivo no proceso de destalinización acabou por ser un erro pois abandonou a centralidade da loita de clases optando por un enfoque socialista conservador que derivaría na restauración capitalista de Brézhnev. O que menos me molou sería como aplica certas das dinámicas do marxismo na historia europea porque ao meu segue a ser un enfoque moi cerrado deste. A primacía da infraestrutura é vital pero creo que non da o suficiente peso ou importancia a supraestrutura. Tamén aínda que fai referencia a elo en varias ocasións, como a organización social é fundamental para aproveitar un momento de crise, na súa análise presupón este aspecto en Europa. Por exemplo o paso do feudalismo ao mercantilismo non foi propio unicamente pola dinámica interna do mercado senón pola consciente decisión de diversos grupos de querer acrecentar o seu poder. Non podía obter poder baixo a linaxe como facían os nobres, polo que o comercio era a única vía dispoñible. Foi a necesidade, a querencia de poder, nese caso privativo e individualista, a que provocou explorar o cambio. Creo que iso é clave para escapar de certa visión mecanicista do marxismo. Non por nada os dous elementos fundamentais para a revolución son a crise e a organización. Sen a primeira non hai posibilidade de apertura de que outro mundo é posible ; sen a segunda non hai aproveitamento das forzas descontentas provocadas polo primeiro. Para fuxir do socialismo volutanrista ou conservador hai que apostar por unha relación dialéctica entre infraestrutura e supraestrutura.
Este libro deu a luz nunha época na que o socialismo estaba establecido en diversos países e aínda que comezaba xa a cerrarse de novo cara o capitalismo, o certo é que había un mundo posible por percorrer. Hoxe estamos nunha situación moito peor. O novo imperialismo busca rematar coa globalización para crear zonas de influencia, xerando sistemas pechados de oligarquías que impidan a posibilidade de socialismo ao regresar a unha ríxida estrutura xurídico-social. Teño ganas de lerme a análise de Varoufakis porque creo que ten razón cando di que o capitalismo morreu e agora transitamos a un novo sistema.
O libro ao meu ver debería cambiar de titulo pois non se queda na análise Marxista-Lenilista senón que toma a Mao, como debe ser, como o terceiro gran pensador do marxismo. Gústame moito o seu enfoque das etapas entre marxismo clásico, a etapa lenilista e a do seu presente onde a vangarda é Mao pois cada un dos seus enfoques ofrece as ferraementas de construción socialista. Tamén como partindo desta retícula do final acepta os erros do stalinismo, principalmente a idea de que o socialismo debía ser pilotado dende un país. O xiro que fai Jrushchov aínda que positivo no proceso de destalinización acabou por ser un erro pois abandonou a centralidade da loita de clases optando por un enfoque socialista conservador que derivaría na restauración capitalista de Brézhnev. O que menos me molou sería como aplica certas das dinámicas do marxismo na historia europea porque ao meu segue a ser un enfoque moi cerrado deste. A primacía da infraestrutura é vital pero creo que non da o suficiente peso ou importancia a supraestrutura. Tamén aínda que fai referencia a elo en varias ocasións, como a organización social é fundamental para aproveitar un momento de crise, na súa análise presupón este aspecto en Europa. Por exemplo o paso do feudalismo ao mercantilismo non foi propio unicamente pola dinámica interna do mercado senón pola consciente decisión de diversos grupos de querer acrecentar o seu poder. Non podía obter poder baixo a linaxe como facían os nobres, polo que o comercio era a única vía dispoñible. Foi a necesidade, a querencia de poder, nese caso privativo e individualista, a que provocou explorar o cambio. Creo que iso é clave para escapar de certa visión mecanicista do marxismo. Non por nada os dous elementos fundamentais para a revolución son a crise e a organización. Sen a primeira non hai posibilidade de apertura de que outro mundo é posible ; sen a segunda non hai aproveitamento das forzas descontentas provocadas polo primeiro. Para fuxir do socialismo volutanrista ou conservador hai que apostar por unha relación dialéctica entre infraestrutura e supraestrutura.
Este libro deu a luz nunha época na que o socialismo estaba establecido en diversos países e aínda que comezaba xa a cerrarse de novo cara o capitalismo, o certo é que había un mundo posible por percorrer. Hoxe estamos nunha situación moito peor. O novo imperialismo busca rematar coa globalización para crear zonas de influencia, xerando sistemas pechados de oligarquías que impidan a posibilidade de socialismo ao regresar a unha ríxida estrutura xurídico-social. Teño ganas de lerme a análise de Varoufakis porque creo que ten razón cando di que o capitalismo morreu e agora transitamos a un novo sistema.
August 17, 2022
Gute Einführung, im Ganzen genommen.
Einzig der Teil des Buches, der sich mti der Philosophie befasst, ist leider schwach geraten. Zum Teil sind da auch direkt Fehler drin. Beispielsweise wird die Dialektik vor Hegel auf die Sokratische Methode reduiziert. Hegels Dialektik wird auch auf das bekannte These, Antithese, Synthese-Schema reduziert (wenn das die Hegelsche Dialektik erschöpfen oder auch nur im Wesen treffen würde, wäre er nie über Fichte und Schelling hinausgekommen).
Dann fällt Sison hier auch leider hinter die intelligente und wichtige Diffenrenzierung hinsichtlich des Materiebegriffs, die Lenin in Materialismus und Empirikitizismus eingeführt hat, zurück. Dass es nämliche einen jeweils ganz spezifischen naturwissenschaftlichen Materiebegriff gibt, der sich aus den empirischen Erkenntnissen vor allem der Physik speist. Und eben den philosophischen Materiegriff, der darin besteht, dass die Außenwelt der menschlichen Erkenntnis und dem menschlichen Dasein vorausgeht und unabhängig von uns besteht (das schließt die Vermittlung durch die von uns in der Synthese mit der Natur produzierte Gesellschaft in ihrer jeweils konkreten Form nicht aus). Bei Sison heißt es einfach Materie ist das, was sich aus Partikeln zusammensetzt (also die Verwechselung des naturwissenschaftlichen mit dem philosophschien Begriff der Materie). Lenin hat diese Differenzierung damals stark gemacht, da eine Reduktion auf den naturwissenschafltichen Begriff der Materie mit jeder Veränderung oder Konkretisierung dieses Begriffes zu philosophischen Krisen führen kann, die dann dem Idealismus Einflusssphären eröffnen.
Sison hat das Buch aber unter den schwierigsten Umständen der Gefägnishaft geschrieben, von daher ist dieser Mangel nicht zu hoch zu verbuchen.
Einzig der Teil des Buches, der sich mti der Philosophie befasst, ist leider schwach geraten. Zum Teil sind da auch direkt Fehler drin. Beispielsweise wird die Dialektik vor Hegel auf die Sokratische Methode reduiziert. Hegels Dialektik wird auch auf das bekannte These, Antithese, Synthese-Schema reduziert (wenn das die Hegelsche Dialektik erschöpfen oder auch nur im Wesen treffen würde, wäre er nie über Fichte und Schelling hinausgekommen).
Dann fällt Sison hier auch leider hinter die intelligente und wichtige Diffenrenzierung hinsichtlich des Materiebegriffs, die Lenin in Materialismus und Empirikitizismus eingeführt hat, zurück. Dass es nämliche einen jeweils ganz spezifischen naturwissenschaftlichen Materiebegriff gibt, der sich aus den empirischen Erkenntnissen vor allem der Physik speist. Und eben den philosophischen Materiegriff, der darin besteht, dass die Außenwelt der menschlichen Erkenntnis und dem menschlichen Dasein vorausgeht und unabhängig von uns besteht (das schließt die Vermittlung durch die von uns in der Synthese mit der Natur produzierte Gesellschaft in ihrer jeweils konkreten Form nicht aus). Bei Sison heißt es einfach Materie ist das, was sich aus Partikeln zusammensetzt (also die Verwechselung des naturwissenschaftlichen mit dem philosophschien Begriff der Materie). Lenin hat diese Differenzierung damals stark gemacht, da eine Reduktion auf den naturwissenschafltichen Begriff der Materie mit jeder Veränderung oder Konkretisierung dieses Begriffes zu philosophischen Krisen führen kann, die dann dem Idealismus Einflusssphären eröffnen.
Sison hat das Buch aber unter den schwierigsten Umständen der Gefägnishaft geschrieben, von daher ist dieser Mangel nicht zu hoch zu verbuchen.
June 24, 2025
In the chaos and entropy of modern society, I ask myself if the world can be truly governed by any rule or truth that possess no exception. Surely the rules of natural sciences, although our understanding of such is still developing, are apparent that rules exist. Laws concerning social behavior and political order however? I've spent over twenty years in doubt.
Joma writes this from his prison cell, a political prisoner under the oppressive and fascist Marcos regime. His writings, heavily influenced by practitioners of ML theory like Stalin and Mao, first start at the basic and inarguable philosophical bases of Marxism: what governs the forces of matter, how does development occur, the reality of the material...
And somehow before you realize it, you've ventured into historical materialism, recognizing the dialectic unity of antagonizing political forces. And truly it begins to make sense. Joma summarizes the Marxist structure of analysis tidily, elucidating me about what to make of today's turbulent world. A better future not only seems likely, but certain. Many, including me, have felt the brutal anarchy of the oppressive conditions of capitalism and embrace it, turning to individual anti-capitalist libertarianism for a plan, and thus are left wanting. Joma, and by proxy Marx and his successors, provide a winning analysis that fills readers optimism and will to struggle. It is time to test our metal.
Joma writes this from his prison cell, a political prisoner under the oppressive and fascist Marcos regime. His writings, heavily influenced by practitioners of ML theory like Stalin and Mao, first start at the basic and inarguable philosophical bases of Marxism: what governs the forces of matter, how does development occur, the reality of the material...
And somehow before you realize it, you've ventured into historical materialism, recognizing the dialectic unity of antagonizing political forces. And truly it begins to make sense. Joma summarizes the Marxist structure of analysis tidily, elucidating me about what to make of today's turbulent world. A better future not only seems likely, but certain. Many, including me, have felt the brutal anarchy of the oppressive conditions of capitalism and embrace it, turning to individual anti-capitalist libertarianism for a plan, and thus are left wanting. Joma, and by proxy Marx and his successors, provide a winning analysis that fills readers optimism and will to struggle. It is time to test our metal.
January 5, 2021
This book is slightly awkward because my entire life it's been normative that the USSR was dead, while in this book it wasn't, they talk as if USSR is going to live for 2 or more decades further & act as if it's on equal footing against USA.
Also the annihilation coming from climate cataclysm makes this idea of countries not being able to tell others what to do kinda undercooked. However, it did explain why USSR was considered not only snobby, but this author's description was like describing the Democrat Party's M.O. in USA.
But actually, one of the most useful things I got on the first read was that what I & others often call Fascism in a broad sense is actually derived from mercantilism. While this thesis isn't really stated & is used as an add-on, I think this was actually an argument being made especially considering how long we've been dealing with that shit.
This might actually be a 5 star book, but I need to refresh my memory on the earlier parts.
Also the annihilation coming from climate cataclysm makes this idea of countries not being able to tell others what to do kinda undercooked. However, it did explain why USSR was considered not only snobby, but this author's description was like describing the Democrat Party's M.O. in USA.
But actually, one of the most useful things I got on the first read was that what I & others often call Fascism in a broad sense is actually derived from mercantilism. While this thesis isn't really stated & is used as an add-on, I think this was actually an argument being made especially considering how long we've been dealing with that shit.
This might actually be a 5 star book, but I need to refresh my memory on the earlier parts.
January 27, 2022
It's an excellent survey of the necessary introduction to how communism is arrived at, what Lenin added, and further, small insights into what Mao added. The only thing I feel is wanting in this book is that I can't imagine accidentally coming across it. You find it because you want to find an easy-to-read intro to the topic because the other materials you've read weren't as easy or welcoming or comprehendable. Which then means you've already read (tried to read) most of what is covered here. (There is also a problem with a couple of sections in the center where it suddenly uses Very Academic Economic Theory Words unlike the rest of the book, and further doesn't define them. This might be an issue with the translation rather than the original, I do not know)
August 2, 2022
An excellent overview of Marxism-Leninism covering, in order, the philosophical foundation, a rundown of Historical Materialism, an overview of the last ~200 years of Capitalist political economy, and the construction of Socialism. Used this book for a reading group for a while and served well as a discussion guide and base for further interrogations. It’s main “problem” is advertised in the title: these are just basic principles and a primer. Ideally, you should read this as either one of your first intros on Marxism, and/or you have a resource to interrogate about finer points or you’re fine googling some question.
Note: some of the more hopeful/optimistic predictions fall flat due to the collapse of Socialism :(
Note: some of the more hopeful/optimistic predictions fall flat due to the collapse of Socialism :(
August 26, 2022
An excellent primer on the development of Marxism into the early 1980s, it clearly and concisely breaks down the Marxist classics regarding historical materialism, dialectical materialism, political economy, scientific socialism, etc. into a way that can be seen as a beginner's guide to Marxism-Leninism-Mao Zedong Thought. A highly recommended read for all Communists and people interested in Maoism.
January 29, 2023
An easily digestible overview of Marxism-Leninism from the perspective of a revolutionary in a semi-feudal, semi-colonial country. Includes a brief overview of what sets the dictatorship of the proletariat apart from revisionist backsliding into capitalism as occurred in the former Soviet Union under Khrushchev and in China under Deng Xiaoping.
July 31, 2023
3.5/5
Il n’est pas aussi accessible qu’il pourrait l’être. Beaucoup de concepts théories et événements gagneraient à être explicités. Mettre des astérisques et des définitions à la fin aurait changé beaucoup de choses. Dommage pour une introduction.
Je recommande quand même: c’est court et ca reste efficace. Il faut garder en tête que ca a été écrit en 1981-82.
Il n’est pas aussi accessible qu’il pourrait l’être. Beaucoup de concepts théories et événements gagneraient à être explicités. Mettre des astérisques et des définitions à la fin aurait changé beaucoup de choses. Dommage pour une introduction.
Je recommande quand même: c’est court et ca reste efficace. Il faut garder en tête que ca a été écrit en 1981-82.
January 4, 2024
Jose Maria Sison is a treasure. Being a primer, this book was incredibly easy to follow, well organized, and communicated sometimes hard to grasp theoretical concepts in simple terms. Highly recommend to anyone interested in Marxism, Socialism, and the international proletarian struggle.
Ka Joma Lives!
Ka Joma Lives!
June 27, 2024
An excellent overview of the basic concepts of Marxism-Leninism along with broad strokes global historical accounts. The writing is clear and direct and presents the information in a very digestible way.
The writing did feel focused on masculine language and could have highlighted the intersectionality of people a little better, but overall it’s a good introduction.
The writing did feel focused on masculine language and could have highlighted the intersectionality of people a little better, but overall it’s a good introduction.
October 27, 2024
Good god, this took too long for me to finish. I this book is under 200 pages but not a single page is wasted, this is in my opinion one of the best books on Marxism Leninism which makes it all the more impressive that it written in a prison cell in isolation. If one is just starting to get into Marxism this would not be a bad starting point.
November 30, 2024
I absolutely recommend this book and will likely reread it again. I borrowed this copy from my friend and I think I need to buy one for myself now so I can write notes in the margins next time. Definitely helped me understand ML more deeply. Took me a little too long to read it but it’s because I was not very focused/disciplined when I started reading it.
November 17, 2022
If you’re planning a study group on Marxism, I’d recommend incorporating this book somehow. An excellent elaboration of the three component parts of Marxism and their application in the era of Maoism.
August 1, 2021
brilliant!
November 7, 2021
Nice and easy introduction to the topic.
February 9, 2022
relatively accessible introduction to the core principles of marxism-leninism. earlier chapters on dialectical and historical materialism are a bit dense and require some close reading.
December 20, 2022
#JomaLives!
August 19, 2024
Great book, not just for 'beginners'! :)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews