Blog #3 – What is marxism?

Blog #3: Round 1 of research 

What are the key principles of Marxism as a social, economic, and political theory/how it has influenced various societies and movements throughout history? 

What is Marxism? 

“To each according to his needs, from each according to his ability” – Karl Marx  

Marxism is a left-wing socioeconomic theory; it advocates for more equal distribution of wealth and power. It uses a materialist interpretation of historical development meaning it sees history as being shaped primarily by economic forces. It originated from the ideas of Karl Marx born May 5, 1818, and died March 14 1883(4). He wrote and published many books on Marxist theory with, the most celebrated ones being the communist manifesto with Fredrich Engels and Das Kapital. These writings by Marx and Engels formed the basis of Marxist theory. Marx also introduced philosophical anthropology, a theory of history, and an economic and political program (6). Marx’s work inspired the foundation of many political parties and revolutions throughout the 20th century (7). 

What are some of its key principles? 

• Opposition to capitalism, opposition to a system that exploits the majority based on inequality, and whose purpose is to achieve profits for a minority rather than satisfying the need of the majority (1). 
• Historical materialism, the idea that economic and social conditions are the primary drivers of historical change and development (1). The materialist interpretation of historical development argues that changes in modes of production can lead to social/cultural change, and changes in politics. For example, capitalism has a huge impact on modern day politics, often candidate’s platforms are centered around things like the economy, capitalism has also led to the rise of the Bourgois. Some stages of historical development include primitive communism, ancient society, feudalism, capitalism, and socialism. Each stage being characterized by a particular way of organizing economic activity, as well different social relations, laws, and institutions. (5) 
• Class struggle, this is the belief that society is divided into classes that are against each other, these classes being the working class and the bourgeoisie. Class struggle Recognizes the immense injustices and inequalities that separate these classes. 
• Surplus value: The concept that workers create value through their labor but are not compensated fully for that value by capitalists who control the means of production. The means of production being the physicals and abstract resources that are used to produce goods (2). 
• Proletarian revolution, this is the idea that the working class (proletarians) must overthrow the bourgeoisie in a revolution to establish a socialist society. “The emancipation of the workers must be the task of the workers themselves.” -Marx. This revolution will lead to the transformation of society, where the society is based on community, working together, and free distribution of goods and services (1). 
• Collective ownership of the means of production is the abolishment of private property. Collective ownership means that the land that workers work on would be owned by the workers and not just one person who is collecting the surplus value of their labour. This aims to eliminate the exploitation of the working class by the bourgeois (3). 

1. The basic principles of Marxism – Critique Sociale. libcom.org. (n.d.). Retrieved April 19, 2023, from https://libcom.org/article/basic-principles-marxism-critique-sociale
2. CO. Glossary of Terms: Co. (n.d.). Retrieved April 19, 2023, from https://www.marxists.org/glossary/terms/c/o.htm#collective-ownership 
3. Encyclopædia Britannica, inc. (2023, March 10). Karl Marx. Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved April 19, 2023, from https://www.britannica.com/biography/Karl-Marx
4. Introduction to Karl Marx, module on stages of development. (n.d.). Retrieved April 20, 2023, from https://cla.purdue.edu/academic/english/theory/marxism/modules/marxstages.html 
5. Encyclopædia Britannica, inc. (2023, March 31). Marxism. Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved April 19, 2023, from https://www.britannica.com/topic/Marxism 
6. Wolff, J., & Leopold, D. (2020, December 21). Karl Marx. Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Retrieved April 19, 2023, from https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/marx/