This is the first in a series of study columns UNITY will publish on the current international situation and Mao Tsetung’s theory of the three worlds. We hope that it will help in understanding the various political forces in the world and our revolutionary tasks.
Each study column will have a commentary on aspects of the theory of the three worlds as well as some suggested readings from Marxist works, which should help in seeing the theory as consistent with and a great contribution to Marxism-Leninism.
This first column presents the importance of understanding the international situation and the general features of the theory of the three worlds.
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Revolutionaries in every country always have placed great attention to international developments. This is because the revolution in any particular country takes place in the context of world politics. The communist parties which led two of the great revolutions of the twentieth century, the Russian October Socialist Revolution and the Chinese Revolution of 1949, succeeded because their strategy and tactics took into full account international developments and forces.
As Stalin pointed out, with the rise of imperialism, evolution cannot be seen exclusively as “the result of the internal development of a given country” but rather “the proletarian revolution must be regarded primarily as the result of the development of the contradictions within the world system of imperialism.” (Foundations of Leninism, Foreign Languages Press, Peking, D. 29)
In light of a concrete assessment of the international situation, communists evaluate the conditions facing the revolution in their own countries and determine their particular tasks. Referring to the valuations Marx and Engels made of the revolutions in some countries in the 19th century, the Communist Party of China pointed out that “the sum total of the international proletariat’s interests was always the starting point from which they examined specific national movements and political forces.” Chairman Mao’s Differentiation of the Three Worlds a Major Contribution to Marxism-Leninism, Foreign Languages Press, p. 9)
A modern example of a Marxist-Leninist analysis of the international situation and the relationship of world forces to the proletarian revolution was the 1963 Proposal for a General Line of the International Communist Movement, published by the Communist Party of China (CPC) under Mao Tsetung’s guidance. It is worthwhile to review some of the important points of this document to understand the method of the CPC in developing the line on the international situation. It is also helpful to understand the conditions at that time so that we may contrast them with a world today.
As the CPC stated, their Proposal proceeded “from the actual world situation taken as a whole and from a class analysis of the fundamental contradictions in the contemporary world.” (p. 4) The CPC presented four fundamental contradictions in the world: the contradiction between the socialist camp and the imperialist camp; the contradiction between the proletariat and the bourgeoisie in the capitalist countries; the contradiction between the oppressed nations and imperialism; and the contradictions among imperialist countries and among monopoly capitalist groups.
The CPC pointed out that these four fundamental contradictions are inter-related and will inevitably give rise to revolution. At the same time, the CPC did not simply present these four contradictions, but analyzed how these contradictions manifested themselves in a particular way at that time in history.
The CPC analyzed that the main contradiction at that time was the one between U.S. imperialism and the people and countries of the world. U.S. imperialism had stepped into the shoes of the weakened or defeated imperialist powers like Britain and Germany and was trying to build the largest imperialist empire in history. Because the U.S. imperialists had set themselves up against the people of the world, the CPC stated that at that time, “the international proletariat must and can unite all the forces that can be united, make use of the internal contradictions in the enemy camp and establish the broadest united front against the U.S. imperialists and their lackeys.” (p. 12) This analysis and line did not blur or cover over the four fundamental contradictions, but rather was a scientific presentation of how the contradictions actually were aligned and expressed.
The Proposal indicated that the international proletariat and the socialist countries were the leading force in the united front. It also indicated the revolutionary importance of the struggles of the people in Asia, Africa and Latin America. “In a sense,” the Proposal stated, “the whole cause of the international proletarian revolution hinges on the outcome of the revolutionary struggles of the people of these areas, who constitute the overwhelming majority of the world’s population.” (p. 13)
The Proposal pointed out that the workers and peasant masses in the oppressed countries were the most vigorous in fighting imperialism in these countries but also that a broad united front could be formed including workers, peasants, intellectuals, petty bourgeoisie, as well as ”the patriotic national bourgeoisie, and even certain kings, princes and aristocrats who are patriotic.” (p. 15)
Regarding the capitalist countries, the Proposal maintained that the proletarian revolution and the dictatorship of the proletariat were required to resolve the contradictions of these societies. At the same time it stated that “in the capitalist countries which U.S. imperialism controls or is trying to control, the working class and the people should direct their attacks mainly against U.S. imperialism, but also against their own monopoly capitalists and other reactionary forces who are betraying the national interests.” (p. 18)
In sum then, the approach the CPC adopted was one of identifying the main enemy on a world scale, the main revolutionary forces and the intermediate forces that could be united with against the enemy. It proceeded from an understanding of the contradictions in the world and how to use them in the interests of the proletarian revolution. The CPC line was the application of the principle of uniting all who could be united.
Since the writing of the Proposal in 1963 the world situation has altered considerably. The most significant factor that has developed is the rise of Soviet social-imperialism. The Soviet Union was once a great socialist country, but in the 1950’s it degenerated into capitalism. It has since developed into an imperialist superpower vying with the U.S. for world domination. The socialist camp, too, no longer is in existence, due to the rise of Soviet social-imperialism – although there continue to be individual socialist countries like China and Korea.
Unlike the 1950’s and 1960’s though, when U.S. imperialism was the main enemy in the world, today there are two imperialist superpowers who are the enemies of the people of the world.
Mao Tsetung took into account the rise of Soviet social-imperialism and other developments in his theory of the three worlds. He developed this theory in the early 1970’s to help clarify the complex world situation. His theory employs the method used in developing the 1963 Proposal and one can see clearly that his theory is a direct continuation of his thinking on the international situation as applied to contemporary conditions.
Mao’s theory of the three worlds determines the main enemies of the people of the world as being the two imperialist superpowers, the U.S. and the U.S.S.R. The two superpowers are the strongholds of world reaction today and are the biggest exploiters and oppressors. Their drive for world domination has brought them into conflict with the rest of the countries and peoples of the world as well as with each other. The competition between the two is leading them to unleash a new world war. The Soviet Union in particular is the more aggressive of the two superpowers as it is on the rise relative to the U.S.
Mao pointed out that a broad united front could be forged against the aggression, interference and warmongering of the two superpowers. The leading force in this united front is the international proletariat, while the main force is the third world. The third world is composed of the developing countries and people of Asia, Africa and Latin America as well as the socialist countries. The third world is an important feature of Mao’s theory. As in the 1963 Proposal, the theory of the three worlds fully appreciates the revolutionary strength and activity of the oppressed nations and peoples. Since World War II, the third world has delivered the strongest blows against imperialism and made great contributions to the world revolution.
The three worlds theory views the second world, the lesser capitalist countries such as those in Europe, Japan, Canada, Australia and others, as intermediate forces. These countries are ruled by the bourgeoisie who exploit and oppress the working class, and in different instances oppress other countries as well. At the same time these lesser capitalist countries themselves suffer bullying and domination in various forms by the two superpowers. The second world countries are a force that can be united with insofar as they oppose the two superpowers.
Mao Tsetung’s theory of the three worlds therefore advocates forming the broadest possible united front against the two superpowers. The theory is concerned with the struggle in the international arena as a whole, but also provides a guide for the people of every country to conduct their own struggle in light of world developments. This is because it helps us to sort out the complex world situation and understand the basic world forces at work: “ourselves” (the international proletariat and the socialist countries), and “our friends and enemies.” (Differentiation, p. 76)
Mao’s theory of the three worlds arms the revolutionary people with the power of a correct orientation. It not only analyzes the forces opposing the two superpowers but also the dynamics between the two superpowers. The two superpowers due to their fundamental clash of imperialist interests are moving toward war. Such a war will not be in the interests of the people of the world and this is a factor which the international proletariat must take into account.
The danger of imperialist war is definitely more of a threat today as compared to the time of the 1963 Proposal. The people of the world must take steps to prepare to deal with such a war and to forestall the outbreak of world war. As the Chinese view it, “the current fight of the people of the world against the hegemonism of the two superpowers and the fight against their war policies are two aspects of one and the same struggle. Hegemonism is their aim in war as well as their means of preparing for it.” (Differentiation, p. 64)
The theory of the three worlds fully proceeds from the interests of the proletariat and revolutionary people of the world for it clearly shows that whatever helps to weaken or isolate the two superpowers helps the people of all countries. The three worlds theory therefore gives the people of the world confidence, for it shows how all the anti-superpower actions and stands of different forces can be used in the interest of the masses.
For the revolutionary people in the U.S., the three worlds theory helps us to understand the importance of uniting with all the anti-U.S. imperialist and anti-superpower stands of the people and countries of the world as part of our revolution to overthrow the U.S. monopoly capitalists. The three worlds theory also helps us to understand the growing danger of war and impresses upon us the need to intensify our revolutionary work and make preparations to deal with war.
In sum then, the three worlds theory is correct because it proceeds from reality. It is a concrete analysis of concrete conditions. It combats looking at the world through abstractions and formulas. Because it tells the truth, the superpowers hate the theory of the three worlds. They send out opportunists and slanderers of every type to attack Mao Tsetung and his theory. However, this is only testimony to the accuracy of the theory.
In the following issues of UNITY we will discuss the main aspects of the theory of the three worlds more in depth. Our next column will be on the two superpowers as the main enemies of the people of the world.
Proposal for a General Line of the International Communist Movement
Chairman Mao’s Theory of the Differentiation of the Three Worlds is a Major Contribution to Marxism-Leninism
1. Why is it important for revolutionaries to understand the international situation?
2. What was the situation like in the world during the 1950’s and 1960’s as summarized by the CPC Proposal in 1963?
3. What have been the major changes in the world since 1963?
4. What are the “three worlds” and their interrelationship?
5. Why is it important to understand the forces opposed to the two superpowers as well as the dynamics between the two superpowers?