Study Guide For New Comrades

Leading Light Study Guide

(llco.org)

Only the Leading Light of revolutionary science will guide us to communism, the end of all oppression. This study guide is to assist new comrades in their explorations of Leading Light Communism, the highest stage of revolutionary science to date. Leading Light Communism is what it means to be a communist today. Every new Leading Light is expected to take up study on their own. Questions are always welcome, but the knowledge of the leadership should not be used as a crutch. Always try to find the answer yourself before asking. Be critical. Read. Read. Read. As you make this journey, your knowledge will have gaps. That is OK. Grasping Leading Light Communism is not like piling blocks on top of each other. It is more like filling in a jigsaw puzzle. Your knowledge will develop in time. Things will become clearer in time. This study guide is designed to help you navigate the vast works of the Leading Light. Do not worry if you do not understand everything at once. Keep reading. Keep questioning. Keep advancing. As you make this journey, you will advance from level to level. Small steps can lead to great leaps. When a text appears twice, it should be read again as part of the new lesson.

Basics I: Welcome to the Leading Light

This lesson is designed to give people the very basics of the Leading Light. It is meant to introduce people to the broad ideas of the organization, to clear up misconceptions about communism, and introduce them to the importance of our revolution. The first impression of the Leading Light should be “Walk this road with us” by Leading Light Praire Fire. This video should be watched more than once. Students should be encouraged to ask questions. They should begin to see that wealth in the First World is connected to poverty in the Third World. They should be able to define “communism” and “socialism.” They should be asked to repeat the main organizational points before moving to the next lesson. Those students who want to move ahead more quickly should read the supplementary texts.

The New Way of the Leading Light in Leading Light 1
Video/Speech: Walk this road with us by  Prairie Fire
Video/article: What is communism? What is socialism? by Prairie Fire
What is Leading Light Communist Organization? in MSH 2
Bring Light, not Darkness to the World in MSH 1
Combat Liberalism by Mao Zedong in Leading Light 3
 Old Power, New Power, Reform vs. Revolution
Global Class Analysis in Leading Light 1
On Gender in Leading Light 1
Global People’s War in Leading Light 1
On the Environment in Leading Light 1
Will First Worlders benefit at all under socialism?

Supplementary texts:

Simple questions by the numbers
Again: Are there any groups in the First World with any revolutionary potential at all?
Real versus Fake socialism on socialist distribution by Prairie Fire

Basics II: Scientific Leadership; Revolutionary Science in command

Only revolutionary science can truly unite humanity. Only the Leading Light of revolutionary science can lead us to communism, the end of all oppression. We must learn from past revolution. This time, when we make revolution, we will go even further toward communism.

Science in command, not identity politics
On democratic centralism and leadership
It is still right to oppose book worship
What is revisionism?

Supplementary texts:

What is to be done? by V. I. Lenin
Mao Tse-tung and the Chinese Revolution by Ch’en Po-ta
Long Live the Victory of People’s War! by Lin Biao
Video: A Storm is Coming

Basics III: Earlier waves of revolution — To make revolution today, we must understand the past.

Review of Walter Rodney’s How Europe Underdeveloped Africa part 1 by Prairie Fire (emphasis on the discussion on Stalin’s boat)
On the anniversary of the Bolshevik Revolution
Some beginning points on the Cultural Revolution
Passion of Mao reviewed by Prairie Fire
On the barefoot doctors

Supplementary texts:

Turning Point in China by William Hinton
Away with All Pests reviewed by Prairie Fire

Basics IV: Historical materialism

All of history should be understood as a conflict of social forces. Just as social problems have their origin in social forces, so too do organizational and personal problems.

Quotes on historical materialism
The Communist Manifesto by Karl Marx
On New Democracy by Mao
On Correcting Mistaken Ideas in the Party by Mao Zedong
Perception of crime rates reflect bourgeoisification of Americans

Supplementary texts:

The Eighteenth Brumaire of Louis Bonaparte by Karl Marx
Civil War in France by Karl Marx
Theses on Feuerbach by Karl Marx
The Holy Family by Karl Marx

Basics V: The State

To make revolution, we must understand that the reactionary state cannot be won. It is our absolute enemy. It must be destroyed. We must build New Power.

Old Power, New Power, Reform vs. Revolution
What is revisionism?
Proletarian Revolution and the Renegade Kautsky by V. I. Lenin
State and Revolution by V. I. Lenin

Supplemental texts:
Is people’s war universal?

Basics VI: Political Economy 1

To understand economy, it is necessary to understand power. It is necessary to understand who the current economic system as a function of social relations or “relations of production,” technological development or “productive forces,” and environment or “conditions of production.”  It is not enough to study how these interact. The point is to change the world, to reach communism. It is necessary to study these with an eye toward making revolution and reaching communism — ending all oppression.

Global Class Analysis in Leading Light 1
Some thoughts on the social factory by Prairie Fire

Revisiting Value and Exploitation by Prairie Fire
The high cost of living in the Third World by Serve the People
Review of Nickle and Dimed: On (not) Getting By in America by Serve the People in MSH 1
Real versus Fake Marxism on Socialist Distribution by Prairie Fire
Equality and Global Alignment by Prairie Fire
Hitler’s Beneficiaries reviewed by Prairie Fire
Review of Teresa Hayter’s The Creation of World Poverty part 1 and part 2 by Prairie Fire

Supplementary texts:

The Average Joe Amerikkkan
New World, New Challenges, New Science

This study guide is not to be used mechanically. It is a beginning not an end. We will produce a study guide for advanced classes soon.