disclaimer: I am not a follower of MLM or anything associated with the Shining path. I am a Marxist Leninist.
I’ve seen lots of joking with some good critique lined up, but never anything satisfying to me? Thats the wrong word but i mean something around that.
Here’s the one I have: the shining path discredited the idea of a revolutionary socialist movement in a society that desperately needs one. The thing about the shining path manifesto is it reads like a parody of what a Imperialist shill thinks communism is. And after Gonzalo was out of the picture the movement declined repidly(Don’t get me wrong, Fujimori and his ilk are among the worst murderous neoliberal sellout ghouls imaginable.) Revolutionary movements should be last because they are supported by the masses not because their cult leader was captured. A good example of a revolutionary movement gone correctly for example os Bolivia right next door and MAS. When Evo got taken out of the picture by the coup the movement survived because it was built among the masses and they were able to struggle against the neoliberal regime and win their freedom.
I’d recommend BadEmpenada’s video on the shining path for more details he goes into far more detail than I can here.
Its why I don’t consider myself a MLM. I can’t. Though I’d follow along Mao Zedong thought once I’ve read up on his works though I don’t know if its enough to turn me into a Maoist.
To be fair, haven’t multiple communist movements been dismantled after their leaders were captured/killed? I agree a strong movement can fight back after regrouping, but I’m not sure its always true. Though this doesn’t diminish Gonzalo’s evil.
Usually the leaders capture is the symptom of the dismantling of a movement not it’s direct cause. The shining path was utterly dependent on Gonzalo to function.
I found a YouTube link in your comment. Here are links to the same video on alternative frontends that protect your privacy:
If you are done with the Cherrypicking. I will let you know that Gonzalo was not the only leader captured. The entire central committee was arrested. This is a massive strategic setback for any organization.