Kimilsungism-Kimjongilism and Marxism-Leninism

Pateman, Joe

Abstract

In the mid 1970s, the North Korean regime stopped presenting its governing ideology as the creative application of Marxism-Leninism. Since Kim Jong-Un took office, the Workers’ Party of Korea has endorsed Kimilsungism-Kimjongilism, an ideology based upon the theories of Kim Il-Sung and Kim Jong-Il. English language Commentators have long emphasized the differences between North Korean and Marxist-Leninist political theory. Kimilsungism-Kimjongilism has further emphasized these differences. It claims to have established an original political theory. This article challenges that claim. By comparing the two ideologies, it argues that Kimilsungism-Kimjongilism has inherited several political principles from Marxism-Leninism, including a commitment to working class emancipation and the core principles of socialist construction. Although Kimilsungism-Kimjongilism claims to have introduced original socialist principles, these are not that unique. Even North Korea's distinctive Songun (Military First) politics has inherited a Marxist-Leninist rationale. These political similarities illuminate both ideologies. They also expose some inconvenient truths about Marxism-Leninism.

Citation

Pateman, J. (2021). Kimilsungism-Kimjongilism and Marxism-Leninism. Politics, Religion and Ideology, 22(3-4), 351-371. https://doi.org/10.1080/21567689.2021.1984235

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Sep 18, 2021
• Online Publication Date: Sep 28, 2021
• Publication Date: Sep 28, 2021
• Deposit Date: Nov 10, 2021
• Publicly Available Date: Mar 29, 2023
• Journal: Politics, Religion & Ideology
• Print ISSN: 2156-7689
• Electronic ISSN: 2156-7697
• Publisher: Informa UK Limited
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 22
• Issue: 3-4
• Pages: 351-371
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/21567689.2021.1984235
• Keywords: Philosophy; Religious studies; Molecular Biology
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/6678385
• Publisher URL: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/21567689.2021.1984235
• Additional Information: This is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis in Politics, Religion and Ideology on 28/09/2021, available online: http://www.tandfonline.com/0.1080/21567689.2021.1984235