They are. Mao was a Marxist-Leninist, and Marxist-Leninists support Mao (for most things, at least, same as Stalin, Castro, Ho Chi Minh, etc.). "Maoism," however, is a branch of Marxism that diverges from Marxism-Leninism, as Maoists believe Mao took Marxism to a new, higher universal level. I disagree with this idea, as do many people on Lemmy.

In short, Mao was a fantastic Marxist-Leninist, but some view him as more than that and as having created new universal strategies and analysis, and these people are Marxist-Leninist-Maoists, rather than Marxism-Leninism Mao Zedong Thought. The CPC follows Marxism-Leninism Xi Jinping Thought, which carries forward Mao Zedong Thought but rejects "Maoism," as an example.

[–] eldavi@lemmy.ml 1 points 7 hours ago (1 children)

The CPC follows Marxism-Leninism Xi Jinping Thought, which carries forward Mao Zedong Thought but rejects “Maoism,” as an example.

lol wut

[–] Cowbee@lemmy.ml 3 points 7 hours ago

MZT - Mao's application of Marxism-Leninism to China's conditions as contemporary to his era

Maoism - MZT but universal, plus some other stuff from Gonzalo and Sison.

Maoists believe the CPC is "revisionist," usually rejecting most modern AES states.