Here is a Basic Marxism-Leninism study plan I copied off, if ye want to understand it
This is the Marxism-Leninism “basic study plan” of the Anti-Imperialism Movement (Movimiento Anti-Imperialista or MAI). I think this is a very decent set of texts to read, so I’ve translated the original list and added links to all English and free-to-read versions available online. Since people very often ask for this kind of thing I hope some of you will find it useful.
(Don’t procrastinate) Introduction Lenin. The three sources and three component parts of Marxism
Lenin. Karl Marx
Marx, Engels. Manifesto of the Communist Party
Historical Materialism
Marx, Engels. The German Ideology, chapter 1
Scientific Socialism Engels. Socialism: Utopian and Scientific
Lenin. What is to be done? https://socialistrevolution.org/what-is-to-be-done-a-reading-guide/
Lenin. State and Revolution (Ouais?)
Lenin. Texts against revisionism and opportunism:
The historical destiny of the doctrine of Karl Marx
Opportunism and the collapse of the Second International
The collapse of the Second International
Imperialism and the split in Socialism
Certain features of the historical development of Marxism
Marxism and Revisionism
Marxism and Reformism
Lenin. Left-wing Communism: and infantile disorder
Engels. Anti-Dühring, part III: Socialism
Stalin. The foundations of Leninism
Philosophy Mao. On contradiction
Engels. Anti-Dühring, part I: Philosophy
Engels. Ludwig Feuerbach and the end of classical German philosophy
Marx. Theses on Feuerbach
Political Economy
Marx. Wages, price and profit (Ouais) https://socialist.net/value-price-and-profit-a-reading-guide/
Engels. Anti-Dühring, part II: Political Economy
Marx. Capital Volume I
Lenin. Imperialism, the highest stage of Capitalism
Examples helped me grasp Lenin’s 5 criteria of imperialism.
a. Monopolies determine large portions of life. A personal example is the video games industry where monopolists play a major role in deciding the way games are monetized and what narratives are pushed, a characteristic of late stage gaming (and by extension LSC), another is Apple and other large tech manufacturers that push planned obsolescence in almost every device produced.
b. Bank and Industrial capital merge into finance capital run by an oligarchy. Example: monopolists and “defense” companies funded by ultra-wealthy investors.
c. The export of capital takes great importance such as the United States exporting capital to various NGOs to start color “revolutions”.
d. Cartels are established to protect monopolist interests like the CTA, IMF, EU, The Sugar Association which is responsible for the Obesity and diabetes epidemics, etc.
e. The division of the whole world among the biggest capitalist powers, the most infamous example being colonialism.