Marxism : Meaning, History, Principles, Examples & Criticism

What is Marxism?

Marxism is a philosophy that clarifies the interactions between the economy, society, and government. Friedrich Engels and Karl Marx made it. Marxists hold that history is a sequence of conflicts between various social classes, such as the bourgeoisie, affluent landowners, who dominate the economy, and the proletariat, or working class, who have no say over their lives. Marxism claims that the current structure of society is unfair and unjust, with the wealthy owning everything and the working class producing nothing. They think eliminating private property and allowing everyone to distribute resources and wealth equally is the only way to resolve this.

Geeky Takeaways:

• Marxism highlights the conflict that exists between various socioeconomic classes, particularly between the proletariat (working class) and the bourgeoisie (affluent owners).
• Marxism argues that relationships and societal transformation are shaped by economic considerations, especially the ownership of businesses and resources.
• Marxism denounces capitalism for exploiting labourers, encouraging inequality, and putting profit ahead of people’s welfare.
• Marxism imagines a society (communism) in which resources are distributed according to individual needs rather than business interests and shared communally.

History of Marxism

1. Marxism’s foundational concepts were developed in the mid-19th century by German intellectuals Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels. Marxism’s core tenets were established by his well-known works, including “Das Kapital” and “The Communist Manifesto” (1848).

2. The Industrial Revolution brought about significant social and economic changes that resulted in the emergence of capitalism and the mistreatment of workers. These changes gave rise to Marxism. Marx and Engels thought that inequality and other issues were inherent to capitalism and would eventually cause it to collapse.

3. Those who wanted to see social change started to adopt Karl Marx’s theories, or Marxism, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. His ideas, which advocated for uprisings against the affluent classes (capitalists) and the establishment of a society in which everyone shared resources and money equitably, were adopted by the European labour and socialist movements.

4. Marxism had an impact on the Russian Revolution in 1917. The Soviet Union, the first nation to apply Marx’s theories, was founded as a result of the revolution. Other worldwide revolutions, including those in China, Cuba, Vietnam, and other African and Latin American nations, have also been influenced by Marxist ideas.

5. Marxism has changed over time as many groups have created their adaptations and interpretations. As a result, many Marxist ideologies have emerged, including Maoism, Trotskyism, and Leninism. These modifications represent various strategies for bringing about revolutionary change as well as various readings of Marxist theory in various social and political circumstances.

6. Marxism was also criticised and revised throughout the 20th century, mostly as a result of the difficulties socialist experiments encountered in real life. New approaches to applying Marxist principles to contemporary challenges such as environmental conservation, gender equality, colonialism, and imperialism have been investigated by academics and activists.

7. Marxism’s ideas continue to have an impact on political discussions, grassroots action, and scholarly research, even though governments affected by it have frequently failed and their acceptance has decreased in some areas. It continues to be a major motivator in the struggle for wealth distribution equity and social justice.

Principles of Marxism

1. Dialectical Materialism: Feuerbach’s materialism and Hegel’s dialectical technique are combined in dialectical materialism, the conceptual foundation of Marxism. According to this theory, reality is always changing and growing as opposing forces come into play. Dialectical materialism asserts that our beliefs and social structures are shaped by material conditions, placing matter before consciousness. Contradictions in nature and society are resolved through the dialectical process of thesis, antithesis, and synthesis, which promotes historical development.

2. Historical Materialism: Dialectical materialism’s tenets are applied by historical materialism to comprehend history and society. It holds that a society’s social and political structures—such as its laws, conventions, and beliefs—are shaped by its economic elements, such as the means of production and the interpersonal dynamics among workers. According to historical materialism, modifications in the production process of goods cause societal transformations that give rise to new social classes and organisational structures.

3. Theory of Surplus Value: In Marxist economics, the Theory of Surplus Value is central. As outlined in Karl Marx’s “Das Kapital,” it holds that employers exploit workers by paying them less than the value of their labour. Workers produce more value than they’re compensated for, and the excess (surplus value) becomes the capitalist’s profit. This surplus value fuels the growth of wealth and capital.

4. Class Struggle: Marxism’s key motivating factor is class struggle. It’s the continuous struggle between various socioeconomic groups with opposing objectives and passions. The proletariat, or people who labour for wages, and the bourgeoisie, or people who own and operate enterprises, are the two main contending classes in capitalist countries. Marxists think that this class conflict is a natural byproduct of capitalism and that it will ultimately result in the revolutionary destruction of the current social structure.

5. Revolution: Marxists hold that the only path to socialism and the destruction of capitalist regimes is revolution. According to them, revolution is the last phase of the struggle between the bourgeoisie and the working class, in which the former takes over the factories and companies and the latter rebels against the former. Marxists believe that to establish a society in which there are no classes and everyone is treated equally, revolution is required.

6. Dictatorship of the Proletariat: The dictatorship of the proletariat is a step towards communism that follows capitalism. The working class is in charge of the government at this moment. Marxists contend that to implement the necessary reforms for a socialist society and prevent the rich class from retaliating, this control is necessary. The working class leads the way to assist the majority of people under the dictatorship of the proletariat, in contrast to capitalist countries where the affluent class controls everything.

7. Communism: Marxism’s ideal society, in which there is no need for class distinctions or government, is embodied in communism. Rather, everyone shares ownership of the production resources and provides what they need while also contributing what they can. People may now focus on their passions without worrying about exploitation or oppression, and inequity is eliminated.

Examples of Marxism

1. Russian Revolution (1917): The Russian Revolution took place in 1917, particularly the October Revolution spearheaded by Vladimir Lenin and the Bolshevik Party. This incident is a well-known illustration of Marxism. The Soviet Union, the world’s first socialist country, was founded after the revolution overthrew the Tsar’s autocratic rule. Marxist ideas, such as the proletarian revolution, the class struggle, and the proletariat’s brief rule, had an impact on the revolution.

2. Cuban Revolution (1959): Fidel Castro and Che Guevara led the Cuban Revolution in 1959, which was a notable example of Marxist philosophy in action. The revolution, which was led by Marxist-Leninist ideas, aimed to install a socialist government instead of Fulgencio Batista’s capitalist one. It led to the creation of a one-party communist state in Cuba, which was typified by socialist principles like public industrial ownership, fair land distribution, and extensive social welfare initiatives.

3. Chinese Revolution (1949): China saw a revolution in 1949, spearheaded by the Communist Party of Mao Zedong. Maoist philosophy, which drew inspiration from Marxist ideas, emphasised the role of peasants in the revolution and advocated for a protracted fight against foreign influence and established power structures. With the establishment of the People’s Republic of China, this revolution turned China into a socialist country. Maoist initiatives, such as allocating land to peasants, establishing factories, and organising large-scale public campaigns, were important aspects of the revolution.

Criticisms of Marxism Theory

1. Economic Infeasibility: According to some, Marxism’s proposal to abolish private property and distribute wealth will not succeed. They fear that because there won’t be enough competition to push businesses to grow, the economy will deteriorate.

2. Overemphasis on Class Conflict: Some detractors believe Marxism oversimplifies society by reducing it to a struggle between the wealthy and the working class. It is also said that other significant variables, such as race and culture, influence how things function.

3. Threats of Totalitarianism: Opponents cite Marxist nations (such as the USSR and China) where authoritarian regimes emerged and brought about repression, abuses of human rights, and restrictions on political freedom. These examples highlight worries about Marxism’s propensity to centralise power among a small group of people.

4. Oversimplified View of Human Nature: Marxism is criticised for its utopian premise that, in the absence of capitalism, people will naturally put the good of the group ahead of their interests. Opponents argue that this perspective ignores the complexity of human behaviour, which includes the innate need for self-preservation.

Difference between Marxism, Socialism and Communism

Basis	Marxism	Socialism	Communism
Meaning	A socioeconomic theory that supports the proletariat’s ultimate destruction of capitalism and the creation of a classless society.	A political and economic structure that supports democratic management and collective ownership of the means of production, exchange, and distribution.	An economic and political philosophy that seeks to create a society without states and classes, in which all property is owned jointly and people are compensated for their labour based on their needs and talents.
Origin	Developed in the 1800s by Friedrich Engels and Karl Marx.	Developed from many socialist groups and intellectuals of the 19th century.	Developed as a separate ideology in the late 19th and early 20th century from socialist movements and Marxist philosophy.
Role of the State	Believes that the state is an instrument used by the ruling class to uphold capitalist oppression; supports the establishment of a proletariat dictatorship as a transitional state to ease the shift to communism.	Believes that the state should be used to enact social welfare programmes and redistribute wealth; frequently supports public control of important companies.	Aims to create a society without a state, in which community ownership takes over and class divisions eventually disappear.
Economic System	Envisions a planned economy in which the proletariat owns the means of production collectively and goods are distributed based on necessity.	Supporters of a mixed economy that is owned by the public and the private sectors, but that places governmental authority over important industries and resources.	Envisions a completely community-based economy in which all property is owned jointly and productivity is distributed based on the tenet of “from each according to their ability, to each according to their needs.”
Transition Phase	Supporters of a socialist interlude between capitalism and communism, marked by the proletariat’s dictatorship to stifle counterrevolutionary forces and erect socialist institutions.	Socialism is frequently viewed as the stage between capitalism and communism, during which the state is crucial in dispersing power and wealth to establish social and economic equality.	Communism is viewed as the socialist revolution’s ultimate goal, where the state has vanished and society is governed by the ideas of voluntary collaboration and common ownership.

Marxism – FAQs.

How is private property viewed in Marxism?

Marxism aims to establish collective ownership of the means of production in communism, replacing private ownership.

Is democracy supported by Marxism?

Marxism is in favour of proletarian democracy, in which the working class, not a capitalist ruling class, holds political power.

What does Marxism mean by alienation?

Marxist definition of alienation is the division, as a result of capitalist exploitation, of people from the fruits of their labour and from their fundamental humanity.

Does Marxism deal with concerns of race and gender?

Marxism has been criticised for occasionally ignoring these issues, yet it offers a framework for comprehending how class interacts with gender and ethnicity.

How does Marxism regard religion?

Marxism sees religion as a tool that the ruling class uses to keep the proletariat under control and to create a false consciousness.