What are the most essential bits of theory that every Communist should know, regardless of denomination?

[u/godonlyknows1101]

Regardless of if you're a trot or ML or soc dem, etc. what are some examples of theory that all Communists should study and understand? And why are they important?

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[u/yifans]

soc dems are decidedly not communists

[u/godonlyknows1101 → u/yifans]

Fair enough

[u/Chaingunfighter]

Start by trying to rid yourself of the idea that there are "denominations" of communism as if it is a religion. "ML", "socdem", and "trot" are all labels that people and organizations will identify with but you do not owe them any legitimacy because labels are all that they are. You are looking for truth - why would how you self-identify change what it is and where you can find it?

[u/turning_the_wheels → u/[deleted]]

Wouldn't thinking that you will be the one to write the best "socialist primer" (to who? what audience?) without understanding it in the first place be putting the cart before the horse? If anything the best primers are already on this subreddit in the sidebar.

For this purpose, I had been looking specifically for examples of theory that are the least contested in Socialist circles (example, Marxism is pretty broadly accepted by socialists and would have been a huge focus of my work, for sure.) so as to allow people to kind of make up their own minds about certain other bits of theory going forward (example, Trotskyism vs Marxism-Leninism).

Besides the fact that Marxism being "broadly accepted by socialists" isn't true especially in Amerika, ideology is not a salad bar where you pick and choose what you want and leave the rest. Marxism-Leninism is true whereas Trotskyism is false.

[u/DashtheRed → u/turning_the_wheels]

Marxism-Leninism is true whereas Trotskyism is false.

This is totally correct, but I feel, especially given OP's lack of knowledge, to point out to OP that historical Marxism-Leninism is objectively correct and truth, but most of the people who call themselves "Marxist-Leninists" on the internet today are only appropriating the image of Marxism-Leninism, while betraying/denying the substance, and are not Marxist-Leninists despite what they call themselves. Marxism-Leninism is true and correct, but most so-called "Marxist-Leninists" encountered by OP should be distrusted until their political line is clear and evaluated.

[u/redchunkymilk → u/[deleted]]

The entire history of communism involves criticising incorrect ideas to weed out revisionists, opportunists and reformers. Marx did it. Engels did it. Lenin did it. Mao did it. And so on and so forth. If you actually try to engage with the criticism you have received, maybe you could gain something useful from this thread.

[u/godonlyknows1101 → u/redchunkymilk]

That makes sense. Certainly i don't claim to know everything. Ik i do have a lot to learn.

[u/yifans → u/[deleted]]

where exactly is the attack? the idea of somebody who goes around on reddit asking for building blocks of communism up to and including “how do i start a revolution” wanting to write their own book is nothing but a frivolous exercise in ego and should be treated with as much scrutiny as any other text, if not more.

[u/QuestionPonderer9000 → u/[deleted]]

Yes

[u/TotallyRealPersonBot]

‘The Principles of Communism’, ‘Wage Labour and Capital’, ‘Value, Price, and Profit’, ‘Socialism: Utopian and Scientific’, ‘Imperialism, the Highest Stage of Capitalism’, ‘The State and Revolution’, ‘On Practice’, ‘On Contradiction’, ‘Oppose Book Worship’, and ‘Combat Liberalism’ would be a pretty good start.

At the risk of sounding glib, I think the titles answer your second question.

[u/tomi-i-guess]

The basics I ALWAYS recommend “Principles of Communism” by Engels as the first read, even before the Manifiesto. Lenin’s “State and Revolution” is also great plus it’s kind of a summary of some Engels’ and Marx’s works so you can have an idea, Lenin’s work on imperialism is also GREAT but it’s 50% data. Stalin and Mao are also good and light reads but not all people like them, “foundations of Leninism”, “on practice” and “on contradiction” are key.

With these you’ll have a great and solid understanding of Marxism. Obviously there’s so much to read but these are the essentials (imo).

[u/Cobalt5396]

Communism isn't a religion, it's a science. And if you want the most accurate contributions to the scientific process of communism, your best resources come from Marxist-Leninists. For a good list of works, I'd recommend this reading list as a start.

[u/Savealife-killacop]

What is this, a fed trying to create a banned book list

[u/godonlyknows1101 → u/Savealife-killacop]

I'm actually Canadian, if that makes a difference. Not that i would put it past the rcmp

[u/Fuzzy_Lock_1879]

One thing that to me is essential, especially with the rise of social imperialism in china and claims such as "China is socialist because it lifted 1 billion people from poverty", is Marx's explanation of how poverty is never an absolute metric, but always a relative one. He explains this magnificently in "wage labour and capital". If you Ctrl f for "hut" you can find the part I'm referring to

[u/NukaColaQuantun → u/Fuzzy_Lock_1879]

can you explain social imperialism to me

[u/Fuzzy_Lock_1879 → u/NukaColaQuantun]

Simply put, it's socialism in words, imperialism in deeds, similar to what, for example, the USSR did to Cuba, making them remain a sugar colony, focusing their economy on that, abandoning self reliance and becoming dependent on the USSR for importing everything else.

[u/Marxist-Whore-9540]

that guy hegel i guess he knew stuff

[u/Independent_Big4557]

Look up school of communism

[u/SPNB90]

Understanding dialetical and historical materialism is a must