Issued: n.d.
Transcription, Editing and Markup: Paul Saba
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The study circles presented by the MLOUSA are designed to provide progressive workers, intellectuals and students with a minimal knowledge and understanding of Marxism-Leninism necessary for membership in the MLOUSA. The MLOUSA’s primary function is to create a revolutionary workers’ party and a workers’ revolution in the USA, as well as to help rebuild the international working class movement.
Our study circles comprise three basic levels. The first level is the beginners circle which is concerned with imparting a knowledge of the fundamentals of Marxism-Leninism. In the second level or intermediary circles, participants study more advanced works of Marxist-Leninist theory as well as scrutinize the various trends of modern revisionism and opportunism. The third or advanced level is mainly restricted to MLOUSA members and is concerned with, working out strategy and tactics for socialist revolution and for building a revolutionary Communist Party in the US.
While it is true that Marxism-Leninism is a science which demands study, any study of this science divorced from practice results in idle bourgeois and petty bourgeois intellectualizing, to which the MLOUSA is determinedly opposed. We view Marxism-Leninism as a dynamic revolutionary theory of the working class and in the interest of all oppressed peoples, a theory which demands study in conjunction with practice in order to assist working and oppressed people in their struggle for emancipation from the brutal rule of capital. The study of Marxism-Leninism for any other purpose is counter-productive and ultimately counterrevolutionary.
1) The prospective member must be at least at the level of militant consciousness, i.e., he or she accepts Marxism-Leninism as a revolutionary theory in general but may not necessarily comprehend all the various trends of revisionism and opportunism.
2) The prospective member must actively take a stand against views which he or she knows to be counter to Marxism-Leninism, whether these views may be part of his or her personal outlook, or are expressed by other members of the study circle, or are encountered in society as a whole.
3) The prospective member must be at least willing to actively participate in class struggle, not only in study circles, but also in society at large and thus must be willing to accept, from time to time, assignments given out by the MLOUSA (e.g., making reports, going to demonstrations and forums, as well as other practical work). The assignments given will of course be commensurate with the individual’s level of understanding.
All study circle members must of course be on time, come prepared (i.e., bring books, paper, etc.), and must carry out assignments.
The prospective member must actively partake in the study circle by bringing in newspaper or magazine articles, various reports and numerous examples which relate to whatever topic is being discussed.
Members have the right to constructively criticize anyone in the study circle, including its leader and conversely, members have the right to be constructively criticized.
Any member has the right to disagree with whatever view that is put forward by anyone including that of the study circle’s leadership, however, he or she is obligated to substantiate such an opposing view in the course of debate. In addition, the study circles tutor should be able to oppose a dissenting view and illustrate his or her opposition to this view through debate. Adequate discussion must be allowed on every controversial issue.
All members of a given study circle have a right and are obliged to attend every meeting, and in the event one is absent he or she should notify the tutor and give a reason for not coming, and in addition, make an effort to find out what important information was missed as well as the next assignments.
Marxist-Leninist Organization of the U.S.A.
1550 Steiner Street
Station A
P.O. Box 15094
San Francisco, CA 94115