Anti-revisionism Gonzalo Thought adheres to the anti-revisionist line of Marxism, considering
revisionists as: A cancer, a cancer that has to be ruthlessly swept away, otherwise we will not be able to advance in the revolution; and remember what Lenin said, synthetically, we must forge in two issues, forge in revolutionary violence and forge in the implacable struggle against opportunism, against revisionism.In this way, ideological purity and complete adherence to what was considered the correct line within Marxism was encouraged.
Use of violence Gonzalo Thought calls for the use of violence through the "people's war" and the "
blood quota."Violence, as a manifestation of
class struggle, was seen as a fundamental step to overthrow the old, enabling the emergence of an overcoming stage of capitalism: communism.
The Four Forms of Struggle and the Eleven Procedures "The Four Forms of Struggle and the Eleven Procedures" (Spanish:
Las 4 formas de lucha y los 11 procedimientos) was a concept developed as part of the strategy for the seizure of power and the implementation of a "People's Republic". It was formulated in March 1983 during an expanded Central Committee meeting of
Shining Path (Spanish:
Sendero Luminoso), where the following eleven procedures were established: "guerrilla action (see
guerrilla warfare), counter-reestablishments, harvest seizures, scorched-earth operations, ambushes, sabotage of the road system, disabling trunk routes, airports,
psychological warfare, harassment to break movements, and selective terrorism". The four forms of struggle were defined as "armed propaganda, guerrilla combat, collective killing, and sabotage". The
armed strike (Spanish:
paro armado) was later considered a fifth form of struggle, understood as the combination of the previous four.
Instrumentalization of education Within Gonzalo Thought, education has the role of recruitment, propaganda and indoctrination of the masses. In this way, the control of university spaces is considered important to train university students in Gonzalo Thought so that they can transmit Guzmán's postulates to the masses.
Cult of personality The cult of personality around Abimael Guzmán was promoted by the Shining Path, reaching the level of fanaticism. Upon his death a national debate ensued that led to the cremation of his remains.
Radical anti-capitalism Gonzalo Thought categorized all types of
private property or
commerce as
capitalist, going so far as murdering cattle and destroying hydroelectric plants; the justification was that all of these were capitalist instruments. This action was compared to British
Luddism of the 19th century. Furthermore,
highland peasants were prohibited from buying or selling, for the very fact that it was considered capitalist. ==Reactions inside Shining Path==