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I-Overview of Marxism - Leninism
1. Marxism - Leninism and ít's Three Constituent Parts
Marxism - Leninism is a scientific system of viewpoints developed by Marx, Engels, and Lenin, inheriting the essence of human thought and summarizing
The practices of its era. It provides a worldview and methodology for scientific understanding and revolutionary practice; it is the science of liberating the proletariat and working people from oppression and exploitation, ultimately aiming at the liberation of humanity.
The content of Marxism–Leninism consists of three interrelated theoretical components: Marxist–Leninist Philosophy (studying the general laws of motion and development of nature, society, and thought), Marxist–Leninist Political Economy (studying the economic laws of society, especially those of capitalism and the emergence of a new mode of production), and Scientific Socialism (clarifying the objective laws of socialist revolution and the transition from capitalism to communism). Together, these components form a unified scientific system-the most scientific and genuine theory for realizing the ideal of human liberation.
2. An Overview of the Emergence and Development of Marxism–Leninism
The emergence and development of Marxism–Leninism consist of two major stages: The formation and development of Marxism, and the defense and advancement of Marxism into Marxism–Leninism.
A. The Conditions and Premises for the Emergence of Marxism
The birth of Marxism resulted lawfully from three main conditions and premises:
- Socio-economic conditions: The rapid development of capitalist production in Western Europe after the Industrial Revolution created the proletariat and intensified contradictions with capitalist relations of production. Workers' struggles demanded a scientific theory to guide them.
- Theoretical premises: Marxism inherited the essence of human thought - German classical philosophy (Hegel, Feuerbach), which provided the worldview and dialectical materialism; British classical political economy (Smith, Ricardo), which laid the foundation for the theory of surplus value; and French utopian socialism (Saint-Simon, Fourier, Owen), which contributed humanitarian ideals and visions of future society.
- Natural-scientific premises: Achievements such as the law of conservation and transformation of energy, the theory of evolution, and cell theory confirmed the scientific basis of the dialectical materialist worldview and rejected metaphysical and theological thinking.
Thus, Marxism emerged as an inevitable product of its era, combining the revolutionary practice of the working class, the intellectual heritage of humanity, and the achievements of natural science.
B. The Formation and Development Stage of Marxism
The formation and development of Marxism took place from 1842–1843 to 1847–1848 and deepened from 1849 to 1895, led by Marx and Engels. During this period, they inherited and advanced the essence of philosophy, political economy, and scientific socialism to build a dialectical materialist worldview and historical materialism. Key works such as Economic and Philosophic Manuscripts of 1844, Theses on Feuerbach (1845), The German Ideology (1845–1846), The Poverty of Philosophy (1847), and especially The Communist Manifesto (1848) systematically presented the fundamental principles of Marxism.
By applying historical materialism to the study of the capitalist mode of production, Marx discovered the law of surplus value, exposed the exploitative nature of capitalism, and laid the scientific foundation for proletarian revolutionary theory. His monumental work Capital comprehensively developed a new political economy from the proletarian standpoint, confirming the inevitable transformation of capitalism into socialism and the historical mission of the working class.
C. The Stage of Defending and Developing Marxism
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, capitalism entered the imperialist stage, revealing its exploitative nature and intensifying class contradictions. Revolutionary movements rose sharply, especially in Russia. Under these conditions, Marxism faced attacks from revisionist and idealist trends, creating an urgent need for its defense and further development. Lenin took on this mission.
Lenin's work in defending and developing Marxism went through three stages (1893–1907, 1907–1917, and 1917–1924). He not only criticized erroneous views and safeguarded the scientific essence of Marxism but also advanced theories on class struggle, socialist revolution, the proletarian dictatorship, the role of the Communist Party, and strategies for building a new society. These contributions elevated Marxism to a new level, forming what is now known as Marxism–Leninism.
D. Marxism–Leninism and the Practice of the World Revolutionary Movement
Initial Influence: Marxism profoundly impacted the international communist and workers' movements. The Paris Commune (1871) was the first attempt to establish a proletarian dictatorship-style state.
Organizational Development: The Russian Bolshevik Party (1903) was founded based on Marxist ideology and led the 1905 Russian Revolution as a rehearsal for the long-term struggle of the proletariat.
Major Achievements: The victory of the October Revolution in 1917 opened a new era for humanity, proving the viability of Marxism-Leninism. The establishment of the Communist International (1919) and the Soviet Union (1922) marked the spread of socialism and the formation of a community of socialist countries.
Global Impact: These events strongly encouraged the international workers' movement and the anti-colonial liberation struggles, promoting peace, national independence, democracy, and social progress.
Crisis and Decline: From the 1990s, the socialist system entered a crisis and decline, but socialist ideology continued to exist, with many countries-especially in Latin America-affirming the socialist path.
Contemporary Era: Despite rapid scientific and technological changes, the nature of capitalism remains unchanged. Protecting, inheriting, and developing Marxism-Leninism has become an urgent task.
Vietnam: The Communist Party of Vietnam reaffirms Marxism-Leninism and Ho Chi Minh Thought as its ideological foundation and compass. It emphasizes steadfastness in national independence and socialism, while creatively applying and developing these ideas, summarizing practice, and supplementing theory to address new challenges.
II. Subject, Objectives, and Requirements for the Methods of Studying and Researching the Course"Fundamental Principles of Marxism–Leninism
1. The Subject and Objectives of Studying and Researching
The subject of studying Marxism–Leninism is its core and foundational principles within three main areas: Philosophy (dialectical and historical materialism, worldview, and methodology), political economy (value theory, surplus value, monopoly capitalism), and scientific socialism (the historical mission of the working class and the process of socialist revolution).
The objective is to master the scientific, revolutionary, and humanistic principles of Marxism–Leninism; understand Ho Chi Minh Thought and the Party's revolutionary line; build a scientific worldview, revolutionary ideals, and moral character; and creatively apply them in cognition and practice to contribute to defending the nation and building socialism.
2. Some Basic Requirements for the Methods of Study and Research
To achieve the above goals, studying and researching the basic principles of Marxism–Leninism requires several key points:
- Understand the spirit and essence of Marxism–Leninism in its historical contexts, avoiding scholasticism and dogmatism.
- View each principle in connection with others, recognizing their unity, diversity, and consistency within the whole system.
- Link Marxism–Leninism to Ho Chi Minh's thought, the revolutionary practice of the Communist Party of Vietnam, and the realities of the era to see its creative application in each historical stage.
- Treat the learning process as both education and self-improvement, meeting the demands of Vietnamese people in the new period.
- Recognize that Marxism–Leninism is not a closed system but one that evolves with practice and the progress of human thought; therefore, study should include summarizing experience and situating it within the broader history of human ideas.
These requirements, taken together, enable learners to inherit, apply, and creatively develop the essence of Marxism–Leninism in both knowledge and practice.
1. Marxism - Leninism and ít's Three Constituent Parts
Marxism - Leninism is a scientific system of viewpoints developed by Marx, Engels, and Lenin, inheriting the essence of human thought and summarizing
The practices of its era. It provides a worldview and methodology for scientific understanding and revolutionary practice; it is the science of liberating the proletariat and working people from oppression and exploitation, ultimately aiming at the liberation of humanity.
The content of Marxism–Leninism consists of three interrelated theoretical components: Marxist–Leninist Philosophy (studying the general laws of motion and development of nature, society, and thought), Marxist–Leninist Political Economy (studying the economic laws of society, especially those of capitalism and the emergence of a new mode of production), and Scientific Socialism (clarifying the objective laws of socialist revolution and the transition from capitalism to communism). Together, these components form a unified scientific system-the most scientific and genuine theory for realizing the ideal of human liberation.
2. An Overview of the Emergence and Development of Marxism–Leninism
The emergence and development of Marxism–Leninism consist of two major stages: The formation and development of Marxism, and the defense and advancement of Marxism into Marxism–Leninism.
A. The Conditions and Premises for the Emergence of Marxism
The birth of Marxism resulted lawfully from three main conditions and premises:
- Socio-economic conditions: The rapid development of capitalist production in Western Europe after the Industrial Revolution created the proletariat and intensified contradictions with capitalist relations of production. Workers' struggles demanded a scientific theory to guide them.
- Theoretical premises: Marxism inherited the essence of human thought - German classical philosophy (Hegel, Feuerbach), which provided the worldview and dialectical materialism; British classical political economy (Smith, Ricardo), which laid the foundation for the theory of surplus value; and French utopian socialism (Saint-Simon, Fourier, Owen), which contributed humanitarian ideals and visions of future society.
- Natural-scientific premises: Achievements such as the law of conservation and transformation of energy, the theory of evolution, and cell theory confirmed the scientific basis of the dialectical materialist worldview and rejected metaphysical and theological thinking.
Thus, Marxism emerged as an inevitable product of its era, combining the revolutionary practice of the working class, the intellectual heritage of humanity, and the achievements of natural science.
B. The Formation and Development Stage of Marxism
The formation and development of Marxism took place from 1842–1843 to 1847–1848 and deepened from 1849 to 1895, led by Marx and Engels. During this period, they inherited and advanced the essence of philosophy, political economy, and scientific socialism to build a dialectical materialist worldview and historical materialism. Key works such as Economic and Philosophic Manuscripts of 1844, Theses on Feuerbach (1845), The German Ideology (1845–1846), The Poverty of Philosophy (1847), and especially The Communist Manifesto (1848) systematically presented the fundamental principles of Marxism.
By applying historical materialism to the study of the capitalist mode of production, Marx discovered the law of surplus value, exposed the exploitative nature of capitalism, and laid the scientific foundation for proletarian revolutionary theory. His monumental work Capital comprehensively developed a new political economy from the proletarian standpoint, confirming the inevitable transformation of capitalism into socialism and the historical mission of the working class.
C. The Stage of Defending and Developing Marxism
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, capitalism entered the imperialist stage, revealing its exploitative nature and intensifying class contradictions. Revolutionary movements rose sharply, especially in Russia. Under these conditions, Marxism faced attacks from revisionist and idealist trends, creating an urgent need for its defense and further development. Lenin took on this mission.
Lenin's work in defending and developing Marxism went through three stages (1893–1907, 1907–1917, and 1917–1924). He not only criticized erroneous views and safeguarded the scientific essence of Marxism but also advanced theories on class struggle, socialist revolution, the proletarian dictatorship, the role of the Communist Party, and strategies for building a new society. These contributions elevated Marxism to a new level, forming what is now known as Marxism–Leninism.
D. Marxism–Leninism and the Practice of the World Revolutionary Movement
Initial Influence: Marxism profoundly impacted the international communist and workers' movements. The Paris Commune (1871) was the first attempt to establish a proletarian dictatorship-style state.
Organizational Development: The Russian Bolshevik Party (1903) was founded based on Marxist ideology and led the 1905 Russian Revolution as a rehearsal for the long-term struggle of the proletariat.
Major Achievements: The victory of the October Revolution in 1917 opened a new era for humanity, proving the viability of Marxism-Leninism. The establishment of the Communist International (1919) and the Soviet Union (1922) marked the spread of socialism and the formation of a community of socialist countries.
Global Impact: These events strongly encouraged the international workers' movement and the anti-colonial liberation struggles, promoting peace, national independence, democracy, and social progress.
Crisis and Decline: From the 1990s, the socialist system entered a crisis and decline, but socialist ideology continued to exist, with many countries-especially in Latin America-affirming the socialist path.
Contemporary Era: Despite rapid scientific and technological changes, the nature of capitalism remains unchanged. Protecting, inheriting, and developing Marxism-Leninism has become an urgent task.
Vietnam: The Communist Party of Vietnam reaffirms Marxism-Leninism and Ho Chi Minh Thought as its ideological foundation and compass. It emphasizes steadfastness in national independence and socialism, while creatively applying and developing these ideas, summarizing practice, and supplementing theory to address new challenges.
II. Subject, Objectives, and Requirements for the Methods of Studying and Researching the Course"Fundamental Principles of Marxism–Leninism
1. The Subject and Objectives of Studying and Researching
The subject of studying Marxism–Leninism is its core and foundational principles within three main areas: Philosophy (dialectical and historical materialism, worldview, and methodology), political economy (value theory, surplus value, monopoly capitalism), and scientific socialism (the historical mission of the working class and the process of socialist revolution).
The objective is to master the scientific, revolutionary, and humanistic principles of Marxism–Leninism; understand Ho Chi Minh Thought and the Party's revolutionary line; build a scientific worldview, revolutionary ideals, and moral character; and creatively apply them in cognition and practice to contribute to defending the nation and building socialism.
2. Some Basic Requirements for the Methods of Study and Research
To achieve the above goals, studying and researching the basic principles of Marxism–Leninism requires several key points:
- Understand the spirit and essence of Marxism–Leninism in its historical contexts, avoiding scholasticism and dogmatism.
- View each principle in connection with others, recognizing their unity, diversity, and consistency within the whole system.
- Link Marxism–Leninism to Ho Chi Minh's thought, the revolutionary practice of the Communist Party of Vietnam, and the realities of the era to see its creative application in each historical stage.
- Treat the learning process as both education and self-improvement, meeting the demands of Vietnamese people in the new period.
- Recognize that Marxism–Leninism is not a closed system but one that evolves with practice and the progress of human thought; therefore, study should include summarizing experience and situating it within the broader history of human ideas.
These requirements, taken together, enable learners to inherit, apply, and creatively develop the essence of Marxism–Leninism in both knowledge and practice.
