maoism
UK[ˈmaʊɪzəm]US[ˈmaʊɪzəm]
n
The communist doctrines of Mao Zedong, emphasizing peasant revolution and continuous class struggle.
Morpheme Breakdown
Mao
ism
Mao
name
ism
doctrine
Etymology
The term is a modern English formation, constructed in the mid-20th century. It follows a classic pattern of Western political terminology by attaching the Greek-derived suffix '-ism', which denotes a system of beliefs or practices, to the romanized surname of the Chinese revolutionary leader Mao Zedong. The suffix has a long history, originating from the Greek '-ismos', which formed nouns of action from verbs, and evolved through Latin and French to signify a distinctive practice, system, or philosophy. Thus, 'Maoism' literally means "the doctrine or system associated with Mao," concretely encapsulating his theoretical contributions to Marxist-Leninist thought within a single lexical unit.
Analysis
Structure: Mao (name) + ism (doctrine)
- Mao: A proper name (Chinese origin). Functions as the eponymous root, identifying the specific source of the ideology.
- ism: A suffix (Greek origin, via Latin and French). Functions as a noun-forming suffix denoting a distinctive system, theory, or practice.
Examples
The guerrilla tactics were deeply influenced by the principles of Maoism.
Scholars debate the global impact of Maoism on various liberation movements.
His political philosophy evolved from orthodox communism toward a more specific form of Maoism.