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Guide to Marxism

1. Who was Karl Marx and how did he criticise


Capitalism?
Karl Marx
Largely influential Western revolutionary thinker and philosopher
Ideas formed the foundation of Communism

Biography

- Studied law and went into journalism


- Moved to Paris, the central of revolutionary
thought

- Became a revolutionary communist and


befriended Friedrich Engels

- Co-authored the book The Communist Manifesto

in 1848 with Engels


- Theorised that all human history was based on
class struggles
- Class struggles would ultimately disappear
with the victory of the proletariat (the
working class)
- Criticised Capitalism:
- Reduced relationships to a commodity,
question of cash
- Something that could be bought and sold
at market rate
- Mechanisation and simplification of labour
processes reduced the need for skilled
workers
- Reduced wages
- Ability of the proletariat to enjoy the benefits
of industrialisation and expansion of
producing more goods declined
Moved to London, and spent the remainder of his
life there
Family lived in poverty with Engels financially
supporting Marx
Focused on writing the book Das Capital
- First volume: Bible of the working class
- Remainder of the volumes were edited by
Engels after Marxs death
Deeply distressed by his wife and daughters
death (1881)
- In physical and creative decline in his final
years
- Died in 1883

2. Marxs Solution Socialism What was it?


Common ownership
- Resources of the land being owned by the entire
population
- Everyone would have the right to be able to
participate in discussions on how the resources
should be used
- Free access to all resources
- Everyone would have the right to participate in
the social decisions that affect them
- Production in Socialism would be designed only
for use
- Sole aim of production is to satisfy human
needs
- End to consumerism

3. How did Lenin adapt Marxs ideas of Socialism?


Vladimir Lenin - leader of the first successful communist revolution in the world
- Belief that a revolutionary proletariat class would not emerge automatically from Capitalism
- Need of a professional revolutionary to lead the working class in the overthrowing of
Capitalism, followed by a dictatorship of the proletariat as the first stage in developing towards
communism
- Saw the developing world as the frontline in the struggle against imperialism

4. What other forms of socialism are there?


(Maoism, Stalinism, Trotskyism)
Maoism:
- Ideology and methodology for revolution developed by Mao Zedong and his associates in the
Chinese Communist Party (1920s - 1976) until Maos death in 1976.
- Distinct revolutionary outlook
Stalinism:
- The method of rule, or policies, of Joseph Stalin, Soviet Communist Party and state
(1929 - 1953)
- Regime of terror
- Marxist ideology based on the theory of permanent revolution; Leon Trotsky (18791940).
- Came to represent whatever ideology Stalin wished it to represent.
Trotskyism:
- Marxist ideology based on the theory of permanent revolution

5. How can socialism be criticised?

- Allows for free market and individualism


- Values the ideas of each human being as every human being is unique and valuable
- Communism does not value the thoughts and ideas of an individual only values the better
for society

- Based on human nature of greed and self-interest Communism goes against this belief
(wants to better society as a whole without looking at the needs of a sole being

- No intervention from the government


- No prerequisite can do whatever they want freedom, individualism
- Consumerism
- System of supply and demand will never overproduce due to the market producing goods
according to the peoples wants

- Increases the standard of life due to an easier way of making money


- Communism settles for equality of every person in society
- Same standard of living for everybody

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