The following is a guided study plan for Marxism-Leninism. This is not a comprehensive guide, and is instead meant to build solid fundamentals that you can carry on to the advanced course if you wish to extend the depth of your knowledge. This guide is also meant to help you in your real life organizing work, and encourage you to get involved. This is not a history or evaluation of actually existing socialism (AES), nor will it cover advanced topics. For those, see the advanced course (currently under construction).
Everything is made to be readable on a smartphone, with .epubs and audiobooks provided when available. The entire basic course is targetting 20-25 hours or less (I find Red Sails has higher estimates of reading times than is realistic), so it can be completed in 1-2 months of consistent self-study, reading 30 minutes to an hour a day so as to maintain focus and attention. Forming a study circle is also highly recommended, as is following this guide in the order it is presented, without skipping anything. At the bottom of this page, there are links to resources you can use while you go through this course, and an FAQ. Feedback is welcome!
Let's get started!
1. Introduction [~45 min]
Before beginning your studies, it's important to learn how to best economize our time, and why we should study Marxism-Leninism in the first place.
- General Rules for Independent Study - N. Krupskaya (1934)
Webpage [~5 min]
Written by one of the founding Bolsheviks for students in the early USSR, this is a concise guide on how to best absorb the information to come as efficiently as possible by Nadezhda Krupskaya.
- Why Socialism? - A. Einstein (1949)
Webpage | Audiobook [~10 min / 22 min]
Wanting to persuade his contemporaries to pursue a path of intentional development in order to avoid nuclear war and escape the profit motive, Einstein argues the case for moving onto a planned and collectivized economy over the chaos of markets and the profit motive.
- Why Marxism? - R. Day (2020)
Webpage | Audiobook [~15 min / 21 min]
Roderic Day makes his case for why now, in the 21st century, Marxism-Leninism remains the strongest tool for working-class liberation, and why we should defend the achievements of actually existing socialism despite their real flaws.
- "Tankies" - N. Frome (2020)
Webpage | Audiobook [~5 min / 11 min]
Marxist-Leninists do not believe Stalin, Mao, etc. did no wrong, nor do we believe actually existing socialist states (AES) to be perfect and free from criticism. Proper appraisal of the genuine achievements and genuine shortcomings of socialism in real life requires brushing away capitalist mythologizing. Once the fact is separated from fiction, only then can we hope to build on the successes of our predecessors while avoiding repeating mistakes.
- Why do we Have to Study Theory? - Ho Chi Minh (1957)
Webpage [~10 min]
As a hugely successful revolutionary, Ho Chi Minh explains why it is not enough to have good intentions, we must do our best to study revolutionary theory to guide revolutionary practice.
Checkpoint
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Why do you want to study Marxism-Leninism?
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How can it be helpful in your present life?
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Why should we establish a socialist society?
2. Fundamentals [~1.5 hr]
To start off your studies, a clear understanding of basic terminology, as well as the historical context that gave rise to Marxism, is necessary.
- Principles of Communism - F. Engels (1847)
Webpage/.epub | Audiobook [~30 min /48 min]
A glossary of terms and background information, in an FAQ format.
- Karl Marx: A Brief Biographical Sketch with an Exposition of Marxism - V.I. Lenin (1914)
Webpage | Audiobook [~1 hr / 1hr 28 min]
Lenin, as a part of his rigorous studies of Marx and his writings for application in the conditions particular to his contemporary conditions, came to know and understand Marx and his ideology at a deeper level.
- The Three Sources and Three Component Parts of Marxism - V.I. Lenin (1913)
Webpage | Audiobook [~5 min / 18 min]
Outlaying the 3 major components of Marxism, and a short history of how they came to be.
Checkpoint
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What historical context gave rise to Marxism?
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What are the 3 major components of Marxism?
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In your country, what does the class makeup of society look like? Which can be aligned with the proletariat? Which cannot?
3. Philosophy [~2.5 hr]
In order to better understand the later sections, we must understand Marx's materialist outlook and dialectical method.
- Dialectical and Historical Materialism - J.V. Stalin (1938)
Webpage/.epub | Audiobook [~1hr / 1hr 42 min]
A clear summarization of the fundamental components describing the materialist outlook, the dialectical method, and applying both to analyze the arc of history.
- On Practice - Mao Zedong (1937)
Webpage | Audiobook [~30 min / 1 hr 9 min]
One of the best primers on the Marxist-Leninist theory of the unity of theory and practice to inform correct understanding.
- On Contradiction - Mao Zedong (1937)
Webpage | Audiobook [~1 hr / 1 hr 57 min]
Mao explores and elaborates on one of the most fundamental concepts in dialectical materialism, the contradiction.
Checkpoint
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What are some examples of idealist explanations, and what would the materialist explanation be?
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What are some examples of metaphysical thinking, and how does the dialectical method improve upon it?
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How can you apply dialectical and historical materialism in your daily life?
4. Political Economy [~3 hr]
Using your newfound tool of dialectical materialism, let's explore capitalism, it's contradictions, and the class struggle between laborers and exploiters.
- Wage Labor and Capital - K. Marx (1849)
Webpage | Audiobook [~1hr / 1 hr 37 min]
Delivered as a speech to workers, Marx explains the fundamental struggle between labor and capital under capitalism.
- Value, Price, and Profit - K. Marx (1865)
Webpage | Audiobook [~1.5hr / 2 hr 48 min]
More mature in his development of the critique of capitalism, Marx dives further into the nature of surplus value extraction, what forms prices, and how this impacts the class struggle.
- An Extremely Condensed Summary of Capital - N. Frome (2020)
Webpage [~20 min]
Nia Frome, taking inspiration from Marx's Inferno, summarizes the key points of Capital Volume 1.
Checkpoint
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What are the qualitative aspects of value? What are the quantitative aspects?
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How can the contradiction of class struggle be negated for good?
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What is the difference between price and value?
5. Scientific Socialism [~4.5 hr]
We must now move on to socialism, not as it exists purely in our heads, but as it comes into being as a consequence of human development and progression via contradictions in capitalism and the class struggle.
- Socialism: Utopian and Scientific - F. Engels (1880)
Webpage/.epub | Audiobook [~1.5 hr / 1 hr 48 min]
Engels shows how the creation of dialectical materialism, and its application to social development, turned socialism from a practice of "utopia building" into a rigorous science.
- The State and Revolution - V.I. Lenin (1917)
Webpage | Audiobook [~3 hr / 4 hr]
Lenin concretely explains the Marxist theory of the state, revolution, and how the state is to wither away.
Checkpoint
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Why is utopianism ineffective? How does scientific socialism help our movement?
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What are some examples of current utopian socialist movements?
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What makes a country socialist?
6. Imperialism [~3.5 hr]
Marxism lives on beyond Marx, but conditions have changed. Marxists have been carrying forward his work to use dialectical materialism in a new context, as capitalism transforms into its imperialist stage.
- Imperialism, the Current Highest Stage of Capitalism - V.I. Lenin (1916)
Webpage | Audiobook [~3 hr / 4 hr 20 min]
The clearest explanation of imperialism, its origins, and its behavior today. As the principle contradiction the world over, understanding imperialism, how it works, and how we can end it forever is at the core of organizing work today.
- The Imperialist Partition of Africa - W. Rodney (1970)
Webpage | Audiobook [~20 min / 25 min]
Absent from Lenin's analysis of imperialism is the specific role played by the partitioning of Africa among the imperialist powers. Rodney extends the analysis of imperialism, and further elaborates on how suffering in the core is exported to the periphery.
- Five Characteristics of Neoimperialism - Cheng Enfu (2021)
Webpage [~30 min]
Lenin did not live to see the consolidation of imperialism into a single international dictatorship of the bourgeoisie, helmed by the US Empire. Cheng Enfu carries Lenin's analysis forward, to the modern era of moribund neoimperialism.
Checkpoint
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In the modern era of the US Empire's decay, how does this impact the global struggle for socialism?
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Why is it important that we understand imperialism in this level of depth?
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Is your country in the imperial core, periphery, or semi-periphery? How does this impact your local class struggle, and position within the international class struggle?
7. Leninism [~5.5 hr]
Leninism is where Lenin carried forward Marx's analysis to the age of imperialism, as well as the strategies and tactics of the Marxist-Leninist party and organization.
- Understanding Lenin - R. Day (2021)
Webpage [5 min]
Putting Lenin in his proper context, and not simply trying to find ready-made solutions in Lenin's works, is how to properly apply his method to our present conditions.
- Foundations of Leninism - J.V. Stalin (1924)
Webpage | Audiobook [~3.5 hr / 4 hr 53 min]
Leninism, it's historical origins, and its strategy and tactics, stance on nationalism vs internationalism, the role of the peasantry, and more.
- What is to be Done? (Abridged) - V.I. Lenin (1902)
Webpage | Audiobook [~1hr / 43 min] (Note: audiobook is a summary from Red Pen, not the same as the text)
The abridged version was chosen for its clarity, and for bringing its most relevant bits to the modern day. The full original is much longer, and requires much more historical context, but a summary is linked in audiobook form.
Lenin outlines the most pressing stances for the communists to take, and contrasts them with incorrect positions such as "economism" and "adventurism." Useful for avoiding pitfalls in organizing work to this day.
- Freedom to Criticize and Unity of Action - V.I. Lenin (1906)
Webpage [~5 min]
Diversity in discussion, unity once the decision has been made. Lenin lays out the fundamentals of democratic centralism, the basis of communist organization.
- The Correct Handling of a Revolution - H. P. Newton (1967)
Webpage [~10 min]
The revolutionary party must earn the respect of the people, and show them the way to carry out revolution, so as to gain the support of the people and integrate itself within the people.
- Left-Wing Childishness - V.I. Lenin (1918)
Webpage | Audiobook [~1 hr / 1 hr 5 min]
One of the important pitfalls of organization is putting ideals ahead of material conditions, which can lead to disastrous mistakes.
Checkpoint
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What are the most important immediate tasks in your nation?
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Is nationalism in countries dominated by imperialism reactionary, or progressive?
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How can adopting Leninist organizational principles, such as democratic centralism, aid the working class movement in your area?
8. Cultural Hegemony [~1.5 hr]
The bourgeoisie do not simply maintain control through holding onto the means of production. They also put forth their own culture, ideas, and intellectuals to propogate ideas that license complacency.
- The Intellectual, the State, and the Political Party - A. Gramsci (1932)
Webpage [~20 min]
Are intellectuals a class in themselves, or does each class produce their own intellectuals? How does this relate to the character of the state, and the process of party formation? Gramsci answers these questions in this excerpt from the Prison Notebooks.
- Western Marxism Loves Purity and Martyrdom, but not Real Revolution - J. Manoel (2020)
Webpage | Audiobook [~15 min / 22 min]
Western Marxism is held back by cultural ties to purity and sacrifice, preferring the perfect socialism in our heads to real, existing and thus imperfect socialism. This is an example of how cultural hegemony in the superstructure of society reinforces the base mode of production.
- Masses, Elites, and Rebels: The Theory of "Brainwashing" - R. Day (2022)
Webpage | Audiobook [~1 hr / 1 hr 22 min]
If you want to change the world we live in, you must rejext the idea that the masses are simply too uneducated or too propagandized, and recognize instead the wisdom and rational self-interest expressed in their actions, no matter how abhorent this manifests as. People don't support imperialism because they are too stupid to realize that it's holding back progress, but because they believe they benefit from supporting it.
Checkpoint
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How do we fight bourgeois cultural hegemony?
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What do we gain by refusing to use "brainwashing" as an explanation for human behavior?
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Reflecting on the topic of intellectuals, what are some other examples of "subclasses" that do not form a class-in-itself, but are typically subsections of broader classes?
9. Social Liberation [~1.75 hr]
This is a grand struggle, for the liberation of all oppressed people.
- Functional Definition of Politics - H.P. Newton (1969)
Webpage [~10 min]
The police are a special tool of state violence, and in capitalism in general and the US Empire in particular, are brutally murdering black people. It is the right of the oppressed to defend themselves from their oppressors.
- Combahee River Collective Statement - CRC (1977)
Webpage | Audiobook [~20 min / 24 min]
Released by a collective of black feminists, the Combahee River Collective Statement stresses the importance of intersectionality.
- The Social Basis of the Woman Question - A. Kollontai (1909)
Webpage | Audiobook [~30 min / 42 min]
As one of the leading Bolsheviks, Kollontai had a deep understanding of Marxism-Leninism as she applied it to the struggle for women's liberation.
- Transgender Liberation: A Marxist View - L. Feinberg (1992)
Webpage [~ 45 min]
Leslie Feinberg struggled for queer rights as a Marxist for decades, elaborating in this work on the importance of extending social recognition and support to gender-queer struggles.
Checkpoint
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Why is it important to have an intersectional outlook?
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How do aspects like queer identity, disability, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, and more impact the class struggle between capitalists and proletarians?
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Why are organizations that exclude marginalized groups weaker than ones that fight for marginalized groups?
Conclusion
Congratulations on completing the course! For further reading, see the advanced course. With the fundamentals and core under your belt, you can skip around the advanced course and use it more modularly, or you can go through the full advanced course from the beginning to advance to a higher level of understanding.
Make sure to get organized, as well. It is not enough to merely read theory, you must put it to practice. Serve the people! Build up your community! Educate, agitate, and organize! You're more than ready to do so at this point, so try to develop yourself and apply your unique skills and talents to the broader class struggle.
We will win!
FAQ
Q: When should I read?
A: I recommend reading at the same time daily, consistently, making it a part of your routine. It works even better if you can gather some like-minded comrades and form a study-circle, so that you can speak your thoughts and criticisms aloud. This isn't strictly necessary, though, and reading on your own when your mind is fresh will get you great results. The audiobooks in particular are great for commutes or working out, though do remember to take notes when you can.
Q: Where should I read?
A: In a comfortable, well-lit area. Try to make it free from distractions. Ideally, with reference books and other learning tools. In a pinch, earbuds or headphones and instrumental music can help drown out noise, if you prefer reading on a commute or on break.
Q: What if I don't understand a text?
A: Asking online or consulting with a reading group are both great options for most people. If studying alone, try looking up background information on the author and subjects being brought up, to help contextualize.
Resources
a. Theory
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ProleWiki - A robust library and wiki for Marxism-Leninism.
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Red Sails - "Woke ML-MZT Criterion Collection with home videos thrown in"
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Comrade's Library - Excellent source for .epubs
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Qiao Collective - Connecting western diaspora with Chinese political commentary
b. Podcasts
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Blowback - Anti-imperialist podcast about the crimes of the US Empire.
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Rev Left Radio - Marxist-Leninist podcast centering theory, history, and current events
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The Deprogram - Marxist-Leninist variety podcast
c. News
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Liberation News - PSL's newsletter
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Fight Back! News - FRSO's newsletter
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Dessalines' Audiobooks - More leftist audiobooks
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Naked Capitalism - Economic newsletter centering capitalism's decay
Why should we read red scare mythology, rather than genuine historical texts? For example, the soviet famine in the 1930s was largely due to adverse weather conditions, coupled with the bourgeois farmers called "kulaks" killing their livestock and burning their crops to resist the Red Army collectivizing agriculture. However, to paint those who died as "victims of communism" when the communists were the ones that finally ended famine in a region where famine was historically common and regular is hardly genuine.
The term "Holodomor," the right-wing theory describing a man-made and intentional famine, was created by Ukrainian nationalists in the 80s. It was named as such to draw direct connection to the Holocaust, and as such is a form of Holocaust trivialization. Archival evidence proves that there was no such intentional famine, but it is used politically to demonize socialism in the real world, wielded like a club.
An enormous number of prison deaths occured during World War II, when famine was widespread due to the Nazis storming Ukraine, the USSR's breadbasket. On the whole, soviet prisons and the justice system itself were more progressive than their peers, Mary Stevenson Callcott documented it quite well in Russian Justice.
The soviet union, despite having a progressive legal system, was in a state of constant turmoil caused by pressures both external and internal. They couldn't simply delete all previously existing ruling-class people and ideology, class struggle continues under socialism. Further, pressure from the imperialist west, invasion both in threat and in action, and intentional sabateurs meant that the prisons certainly weren't empty. The soviet union never had a single year of normal, stable growth, free from intense opposition on the outside and counter-revolutionary forces on the inside.
The soviets indeed built up strong instruments of state power for the purposes of defending the gains of socialism and oppressing capitalists, landlords, kulaks, Tsarists, fascists, sabateurs, and all manner of counter-revolutionaries. This was unavoidable for any socialist state, especially one invaded by 14 capitalist countries at its outset, and one that started as a semi-feudal backwater.
With the advent of socialism, the USSR brought dramatic democratization to society. First-hand accounts from Statesian journalist Anna Louise Strong in her book This Soviet World describe soviet elections and factory councils in action. Statesian Pat Sloan even wrote Soviet Democracy to describe in detail the system the soviets had built for curious Statesians to read about, and today we have Professor Roland Boer's Socialism in Power: On the History and Theory of Socialist Governance to reference.
When it comes to social progressivism, the soviet union was among the best out of their peers, so instead we must look at who was actually repressed outside of the norm. In the USSR, it was the capitalist class, the kulaks, the fascists who were repressed. This is out of necessity for any socialist state. When it comes to working class freedoms, however, the soviet union represented a dramatic expansion. Soviet progressivism was documented quite well in Albert Syzmanski's Human Rights in the Soviet Union.
Looking at actual rigorous research, rather than red scare mythology, we can see that Marxism-Leninism has been enormously uplifting for the working classes. Socialism has never been free of flaws, excess, or problems, but nevertheless has been progressive and brought with it a new course for development far more humane than capitalism and imperialism.
I've kept the comment you replied to just to have context for your thorough and lengthy reply, but they are permanently banned now.
🫡
Honestly not sure why they think tossing a handful of books with no other elaboration is a meaningful substitute for actually engaging with the points made. An accurate appraisal of the very real shortcomings of existing socialism begins with brushing away bourgeois myth-making, and requires placing each socialist state in their historical context. What came before, where it existed within, and how conditions changed since the establishment of socialism. By their comment, you'd think they supported the Tsar.
Also their comment is totally unrelated to their sources. 'Dont focus too much on theory' provides CIA theory
Yep, plus I literally stated that I plan on diving more into the real achievements, failings, and historical context of AES states in the advanced list. Like, chill, let me cook for a bit and you can read all you want about what xyz AES country was and is actually like, warts and all. Citing fucking Rummel and Applebaum is too on-the-nose.
Cannot have dissenting voices amiright?
Dissenting voices and providing literal CIA red scare propaganda about Global South oppressed countries is totally two different things. But I doubt you'll understand that having the privileged life of Westerner, I'd invite you to come down to the backyard and see how life is over here, I'm sure you'll start understanding a few things.
This is a community for Marxists, not for people to drop the titles of books written by bourgeois myth-makers in a half-assed attempt to discredit socialism.
that's right, no space for fascists here