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Maoism in San Marino

In the tiny Republic of San Marino, nestled in the Appenines in Central Italy, the pro-Soviet Communist Party was a significant factor in national politics after World War II, from time to time even serving in the government. Also, as in Italy, there was a small Maoist party.

Maoism in San Marino was represented by the San Marino Communist Party (Marxist-Leninist), which was established in 1968 by the Movimento Marxista-Leninisti di San Marino, which had been organized a few years previously.[370] It was reported as sending condolences to the Chinese Party on the occasion of the death of Mao Tse-tung.[371] We have no further information on the San Marino Maoists.

Maoism in Scandinavia

Although never becoming a major factor even in the far Left politics of Scandinavia, the Maoists did surprisingly well for a few years in the late 1960s and 1970s in those countries. Generally, the traditional Communist parties of the region suffered considerable internal conflict in the years following Nikita Khrushchev’s speech to the Twentieth Congress of the CPSU. Although there was a general tendency among those parties to move in a “Euro-communist” direction rather than toward the ideas of Mao Tse-tung and alliance with the Chinese party, in each case a minor group did move in that direction. The situation differed substantially in the various countries.

The Background of Danish Maoism

Danish Communism suffered severed internal controversies and splits during the decades following World War II. After an upsurge in Communist strength immediately after the war, reflected in their having three ministers in the cabinet and receiving 12.5 percent of the votes in the October 1945 elections, the Communist Party declined sharply in the following decade.

The Danish Communist Party (DKP) remained steadfastly loyal to the Soviet Union in the immediate postwar period. However, in the wake of Nikita Khrushchev’s speech to the CPSU 20th Congress, and the Soviet invasion of Hungary, fierce controversy broke out, with dissidents who were seeking a more independent policy, led by Party Chairman Aksel Larsen, finally being expelled, and in 1958 forming the Socialist People’s Party (SF) in the following year. From its inception, the SF was the largest far-left party in Denmark.

However, within the SF there also soon developed a factional struggle. It culminated in 1967, when the more left-wing members of the party withdrew to form the Socialist Left (VS).[372] It too surpassed the Danish Communist Party in its attractiveness to the voters, and in general influence in Danish politics.[373]

Founding and Early Years of the Communist League (Marxist Leninist)

It was dissidents from the Socialist Left who established the Maoist movement in Denmark.[374] The group involved began publishing a periodical, Kommunisty on June 27, 1968, indicating that it was being published by “a group of revolutionary Communists.” Then, on September 15, 1968, they formally established the Communist League (Marxist Leninist), or KF (ML).[375]

The first issue of Kommunist noted that Pravda and the organ of the Danish Communist Party Land og Folk both expressed alarm at the spread of “Maoism.” It added that there was some justification for this alarm, since “Marxist-Leninist” parties had been established in Sweden, Norway, Holland, France, Austria, Italy and England.

In Denmark, Kommunist said, as early as 1963 a “Communist Workers Group” had been formed inside the Danish Communist Party, which fought for a “revolutionary line” and against the KDP’s “international line and reformist politics.”[376]

The KF (ML) was led by Benito Scocozza and Hans Henrik Nielsen, both of whom had belonged to the Left Socialists. However, it was noted in the press at the time that the new group drew its members “from the Left Socialists and from the Danish Communist Party.”[377] Scoccozza was a member of the History Department of the University of Copenhagen.[378]

The Declaration of Principles of the KF (ML), was printed in the third issue of Kommunist, which announced the formation of the new group. The Declaration set forth four points. First, the group was dedicated to founding a “revolutionary Communist Party (Marxist-Leninist).” Second, it was guided by “Marxism-Leninism-Mao Tse-tung Thought.” Third, it was organized on the basis of democratic centralism. Fourth, it was in solidarity with all peoples who were fighting imperialism, and with the international proletariat, which was fighting for socialism.[379]

Throughout its eight years of existence, the KF (ML) followed a line that was consistent with Chinese policy. In 1968, it denounced the Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia.[380] It opposed Soviet-American efforts to curb the spread of nuclear weapons, claiming that was an effort to weaken “the anti-imperialist camp.”[381] It strongly opposed the United States participation in the war in Vietnam, and charged that the Soviet Union was conspiring with the United States in that conflict.[382] It strongly supported the Chinese Great Cultural Revolution.[383] It strongly supported China in its armed conflict with India, accusing the Indians of “aggression.”[384] It supported President Nixon’s trip to China in 1972, emphasizing the dangers of attack on China by the USSR.[385]

In June 1973, the KF (ML) called for the ending of both NATO and the Warsaw Pact alliances.[386] In 1976 it called for “All Imperialists Out of Angola]”[387]

In 1973—1974, the KF (ML) press paid considerable attention to another group, the Marxist-Leninist Unity League (MLE), which also professed opposition to “revisionism.” There were apparently certain efforts to unite the two organizations, but they came to naught.[388]

Eric S. Einhorn noted in 1979 that the Danish Maoists had “been active in student protest movements and in the most radical factions of the trade union movement.”[389] He also said that they “had strong ‘cells’ in student politics and front organizations (anti-Vietnam war movement).”[390]

Among the labor disputes in which the KF (ML) became at least tangentially involved were those in the Uniprint printing establishment in February 1975 and the B&W metallurgical plant in the same year.[391]

The Communist Workers Party

On November 20, 1976, the KF (ML) converted itself into the Communist Workers Party (KAP).[392] The transformation of the KFML into a formal political party signified both a change in strategy and the beginning of a change in ideological orientation.

The change in strategy was evident in 1979, when the KAP participated in parliamentary elections for the first time. Their slogans in that campaign were “Alternative for the Left,” and “Socialism in Danish,” and among their demands in that campaign were an “alliance-free Denmark,” and that the country be “atom-free.”