Its impossible to know, but Juche philosophy is good and since the only reliable information we have is that the USA doesn't like them, they deserve our support.
This is not a good attitude to have. Marx didn't just say "critical support to Paris commune", he wrote a lot about exactly what's wrong with it, where improvements can be made etc. Our "support" means nothing unless we actually have military and economic power to back up that support. I developed a much better understand and appreciation of the Soviet Union once I read Marxist criticisms of their mistakes and missteps. So no, I wouldnt accept Juche philosophy until I can get enough data and rational analysis of their society.
Sure, here's some stuff. But truthfully most valid criticisms of Stalin come from the non-ML left, because most MLs do uphold Stalin. And most of the ones who don't simply just have WW2 brainworms they can't let go of.
Most of the areas I think Stalin failed is on social issues. I don't think many chapos are ready to accept the fact that Uncle Joe would hate all of us and think we were all counter-revolutionary degenerates. Dude was very uh... socially conservative.
edit: one thing to keep in mind is that lenin and stalin realized the dream of revolution. they laid he foundations for a global super power in the name of communism. the only reason anyone even has anything to criticize at all is because of them, and in that sense you have to give him a lot of credit. Not that "is X historical figure good or bad?" isn't a completely trivial question in the first place. unfortunately its one that we commies have to address a lot.
That's because it IS Idealist, which is why Marxists don't really take it seriously. What's interesting though is it's not unique. Sartre's final book, Critique of Dialectical Reason, is conceptually the same as Juche. I don't know if Kim was reading Sartre, or it was discovered independently, but it is worth looking at if you buy into the Existential line at all (which, I am unfortunately a lib, and I do).
I think Juche as it seems to be practiced would be batshit insane on a global scale, but hey if it gets them to communism, good for them. I still withhold judgement about stories coming out of Radio Free Asia.
That stuff about the Mass Line sounds interesting though, I'll see if I can dig it up. I'm just starting to really get into Mao (why did i read sartre and juche before mao idk lol)
Its impossible to know, but Juche philosophy is good and since the only reliable information we have is that the USA doesn't like them, they deserve our support.
This is not a good attitude to have. Marx didn't just say "critical support to Paris commune", he wrote a lot about exactly what's wrong with it, where improvements can be made etc. Our "support" means nothing unless we actually have military and economic power to back up that support. I developed a much better understand and appreciation of the Soviet Union once I read Marxist criticisms of their mistakes and missteps. So no, I wouldnt accept Juche philosophy until I can get enough data and rational analysis of their society.
I'm being facetious, but what I meant was just the actual Juche philosophy. What Kim Il Sung contributed to Marxism.
On the Juche Idea
I agree though, I think I became a lot smarter when I accepted that Stalin wasn't actually that great.
edit: wrong link
(I'll never stop loving you papa joe)
could you link to some criticism of stalin from an ml standpoint? i really wanna get into why the eastern bloc split up so damn quickly.
Sure, here's some stuff. But truthfully most valid criticisms of Stalin come from the non-ML left, because most MLs do uphold Stalin. And most of the ones who don't simply just have WW2 brainworms they can't let go of.
Most of the areas I think Stalin failed is on social issues. I don't think many chapos are ready to accept the fact that Uncle Joe would hate all of us and think we were all counter-revolutionary degenerates. Dude was very uh... socially conservative.
Primary Sources:
Mao's Critique of Stalin's Economic Plan
Trotsky's The Revolution Betrayed
Critiques of Stalinsim (I haven't read much of this, ngl, most of it looks like whiney pissbaby trots)
Secondary Source of Stalin being gross:
Stalin's cringe as fuck homophobia
Stalin rolling back Lenin's advancement of civil rights for gays and women
Stalin's affair with a 13 year old when he was 22
2 videos by Hakim, the Marxiest motherfucker alive:
Failures of Former Socialisms (talks about more than Stalin's USSR)
Why the USSR Fell
edit: one thing to keep in mind is that lenin and stalin realized the dream of revolution. they laid he foundations for a global super power in the name of communism. the only reason anyone even has anything to criticize at all is because of them, and in that sense you have to give him a lot of credit. Not that "is X historical figure good or bad?" isn't a completely trivial question in the first place. unfortunately its one that we commies have to address a lot.
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I find Juche to be inherently Idealist, but there are some nice developments along Mass Line stuff, especially in the earlier works.
That's because it IS Idealist, which is why Marxists don't really take it seriously. What's interesting though is it's not unique. Sartre's final book, Critique of Dialectical Reason, is conceptually the same as Juche. I don't know if Kim was reading Sartre, or it was discovered independently, but it is worth looking at if you buy into the Existential line at all (which, I am unfortunately a lib, and I do).
I think Juche as it seems to be practiced would be batshit insane on a global scale, but hey if it gets them to communism, good for them. I still withhold judgement about stories coming out of Radio Free Asia.
That stuff about the Mass Line sounds interesting though, I'll see if I can dig it up. I'm just starting to really get into Mao (why did i read sartre and juche before mao idk lol)
Yeah, don't think we disagree (I'm more partial to Camus than Sartre if I absolutely must embrace 20th century Continental philosophy.)
Have you read any Fredric Jameson? You might like his approach.
I have not but I'll look him up thanks