Anti-revisionism facts for kids

Anti-revisionism is a belief that the basic ideas of communism should not be changed or updated. People who are anti-revisionist think that changing these core ideas would weaken communism and give an advantage to its opponents.

This idea often comes from within a political party. It means disagreeing with new policies or changes that are different from the party's original or standard beliefs.

What is Anti-Revisionism?

Anti-revisionism means being against "revisionism." Revisionism is when people try to change or update the main ideas and practices of a political movement, like communism. Anti-revisionists believe these original ideas are correct and should not be altered. They see changes as a step away from the true goals of the movement.

Why Did Anti-Revisionism Appear?

After Joseph Stalin died in 1953, the new leader of the Soviet Union, Nikita Khrushchev, introduced some different policies. These policies aimed to change parts of the Soviet system. Many people who followed Stalin's ideas believed Khrushchev's changes were "revisionist." They felt he was moving away from the true path of communism.

Key Leaders and Countries

Two important countries that strongly opposed Khrushchev's changes were the People's Republic of China and the People's Republic of Albania.

• China under Mao Zedong: The leader of China, Mao Zedong, believed that Khrushchev's policies were a betrayal of communist principles. Mao and his followers in China declared themselves to be anti-revisionist. They argued that the Soviet Union was no longer truly communist.
• Albania under Enver Hoxha: Similarly, the leader of Albania, Enver Hoxha, also strongly criticized Khrushchev. Albania sided with China in denouncing the Soviet Union's new direction. Hoxha and his party in Albania also called themselves anti-revisionist.

These countries and their leaders believed they were protecting the original ideas of communism from being changed or "revised." They saw themselves as the true followers of Karl Marx, Friedrich Engels, Vladimir Lenin, and Stalin.

Images for kids

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  Αnti-revisionist cartoon from 1976 by Albanian cartoonist Zef Bumçi showing Nikita Khrushchev as a servant of the bourgeoisie (rich business owners).

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  Supporters of the anti-revisionist Chilean Communist Party (Proletarian Action) march during the May Day 2007 celebrations in Santiago, Chile. They are carrying a banner with pictures of Karl Marx, Friedrich Engels, Vladimir Lenin, and Joseph Stalin.

See also

In Spanish: Antirrevisionismo para niños