Z

• Zedong, Mao / Tse-Tung
• Zimmerwaldists / Zimmerwald
• Zinoviev, Grigory

Zedong, Mao / Tse-Tung - (1893-1976) Chinese Communist leader who was chairman of the Communist Party of China and the principal founder of the People's Republic of China. Born in the village of Shaoshan, Huan Province, 1893. Initially interested in mass education, he subsequently turned to politics and helped found the Chinese Communist Party in Shanghai, 1921. Became a full-time party worker in 1923, when the Communists were in alliance with the nationalist Kuomintang, under Chiang Kai Shek. Leader of the Communist Party since the 6000-mile Long March northwest to Shaanxi (Shensi) where they set up bases.  China under Mao experienced a rapid increase in productivity, but also suffered from a Stalinist, oppressive, bureacratic distortion of the workers' state and a lack of proletarian democracy. Presided over the Great Cultural Revolution.

Zimmerwaldists / Zimmerwald - Socialists loyal to the principle of internationalism during the war - so named for their adherence to the program of the International Socialist Congress held in Zimmerwald, Switzerland in 1915.  When World War I broke out, most so-called socialists betrayed the principles of Zimmerwald and supported their own bourgeoisies in the inter-imperialist war under the pretext of "defense of the fatherland".

Zinoviev, Grigory - Old Bolshevik, Lenin's closest collaborator during First World War. In hiding with Lenin in summer 1917, but with Kamenev opposed October insurrection. First president of Comintern and responsible for major policy errors in Germany, Bulgaria and other places. Nominal leader 1923-25 of bloc with Kamenev and Stalin, and most virulent opponent of 'Trotskyism'. Stalin broke with him in 1925 and deprived him of post in Comintern and control of Leningrad party apparatus. Formed joint opposition with Trotsky 1926-27, expelled from party with Trotsky in 1927 but immediately recanted. Expelled again and deported to Siberia 1932, but again recanted and re-admitted to party. Imprisoned after Kirov assassination in 1935, he was ,star victim' in Moscow Trials a year later. Executed after yet again recanting to Stalin, this time admitting to being a 'traitor' and a 'fascist'.

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