Meaning: The quote you provided is from Earl Browder, an American political activist and leader of the Communist Party USA. In this quote, Browder is reflecting on his inability to maintain leadership in open struggle against Moscow influence within the Communist Party. He acknowledges that only two Communist leaders in history, Tito and Mao Tse-tung, have succeeded in doing so.

Earl Browder's statement reflects the complex and often tumultuous dynamics within the global Communist movement during the 20th century. Browder's leadership of the Communist Party USA coincided with a period of intense ideological struggle and shifting alliances within the broader international Communist movement, particularly in relation to the influence of the Soviet Union under Joseph Stalin.

Browder's recognition of Tito and Mao Tse-tung as the only Communist leaders to successfully resist Moscow's influence speaks to the unique circumstances and challenges faced by Communist parties and leaders outside of the Soviet bloc. Josip Broz Tito, the leader of Yugoslavia, and Mao Zedong, the leader of China, both pursued paths of independent socialism and sought to assert their own authority and policies, often in defiance of Soviet directives.

Tito's break with Stalin in 1948, known as the Tito-Stalin split, resulted in Yugoslavia's expulsion from the Cominform and marked a significant moment of resistance against Moscow's control within the Communist world. Tito's ability to maintain leadership and assert Yugoslav independence from Soviet influence made him a symbol of defiance for Communist leaders and parties seeking autonomy from Moscow.

Similarly, Mao Zedong's leadership of the Chinese Communist Party and the establishment of the People's Republic of China represented a significant challenge to Moscow's dominance within the global Communist movement. Mao's brand of Communism, rooted in Chinese revolutionary traditions and rural peasant mobilization, diverged from the Soviet model and contributed to the emergence of a distinct Chinese path to socialism.

Browder's acknowledgment of Tito and Mao as exceptions to the general pattern of Communist leaders succumbing to Moscow's influence reflects the complexities of international Communist politics during the mid-20th century. It also underscores the diverse manifestations of Communism and the varying degrees of autonomy and resistance exhibited by Communist parties and leaders around the world.

In conclusion, Earl Browder's quote sheds light on the challenges faced by Communist leaders in maintaining independence and leadership in the face of Moscow's influence. The examples of Tito and Mao Tse-tung serve as reminders of the complexities and divergent paths within the global Communist movement, as well as the resilience and assertiveness of certain leaders and parties in resisting external control. This historical context provides valuable insights into the dynamics of Communist politics and the struggle for autonomy and influence within the broader ideological landscape of the 20th century.