the basic tenets of marxism “the philosophers have only interpreted the world in various ways; the...
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The Basic Tenets of MarxismThe Basic Tenets of Marxism
“The philosophers have only interpreted the world in various ways; the point, however, is to change it.”
I. History and Class Struggle I. History and Class Struggle (Historical Materialism)(Historical Materialism)
• Human history is the history of Human history is the history of class strugglesclass struggles among the among the classes in society.classes in society.
• A class is defined by the A class is defined by the relations of its members to the relations of its members to the means of productionmeans of production. .
• Means of productionMeans of production - the combination of the - the combination of the means of labormeans of labor and the and the subject of laborsubject of labor used by workers to make used by workers to make products.products.
- - Means of laborMeans of labor include machines, tools, factory include machines, tools, factory and and equipment, infrastructure, and so on: equipment, infrastructure, and so on:
- - Subject of laborSubject of labor includes raw materials and includes raw materials and materials materials directly taken from nature. directly taken from nature.
- Means of production by themselves produce - Means of production by themselves produce nothing -- nothing -- laborlabor is needed for production to take place. is needed for production to take place.
I. History and Class Struggle I. History and Class Struggle (Historical Materialism)(Historical Materialism)
• The class struggles that define The class struggles that define human history in each of its stages is human history in each of its stages is between those that between those that ownown the means the means of production and those that of production and those that workwork the means of production.the means of production.
I. History and Class Struggle I. History and Class Struggle (Historical Materialism)(Historical Materialism)
Stages of HistoryStages of History: : • Primitive communismPrimitive communism – equalitarian hunting and – equalitarian hunting and
gathering / tribal organizationsgathering / tribal organizations
• Slave societySlave society – largely agricultural production done – largely agricultural production done by slaves for slave ownersby slaves for slave owners
• FeudalismFeudalism – largely agricultural production done by – largely agricultural production done by serfs, indentured servants, slaves for large serfs, indentured servants, slaves for large landownerslandowners
- within feudalism, trade expands leading to - within feudalism, trade expands leading to merchants (bourgeoisie) / increased merchants (bourgeoisie) / increased
use of moneyuse of money
I. History and Class Struggle I. History and Class Struggle (Historical Materialism)(Historical Materialism)
• Capitalism - Capitalism - Economic system in which most of the means Economic system in which most of the means of production are privately owned, and production is guided of production are privately owned, and production is guided and income distributed largely through the operation of and income distributed largely through the operation of markets. markets.
- Based open competition, profit motive. - Based open competition, profit motive.
- Encourages private investment and business, - Encourages private investment and business, compared to a government-controlled compared to a government-controlled
economy. economy.
- Investors in these private companies (i.e. - Investors in these private companies (i.e. shareholders) also own the firms and are shareholders) also own the firms and are
known as known as capitalists. capitalists.
- The first Industrial Revolution took place under - The first Industrial Revolution took place under capitalism. capitalism. Marx lived from 1818-1883. Marx lived from 1818-1883.
I. History and Class Struggle I. History and Class Struggle (Historical Materialism)(Historical Materialism)
• Under Under capitalismcapitalism, the capitalists own , the capitalists own the the means of productionmeans of production, the , the proletariatproletariat own only their capacity to own only their capacity to work.work.
• Landlords rule the land, and the Landlords rule the land, and the peasantspeasants are less significant than are less significant than workers and are trapped in the workers and are trapped in the idiocy idiocy of rural lifeof rural life. .
I.I. History and Class Struggle:History and Class Struggle:Class ConsciousnessClass Consciousness
• Prior to the overthrow of capitalism the proletariat Prior to the overthrow of capitalism the proletariat must develop its own must develop its own class consciousnessclass consciousness. Other . Other classes have their own forms of class classes have their own forms of class consciousness. consciousness.
• Television, literature, art, music and other forms Television, literature, art, music and other forms of culture tend to reflect the of culture tend to reflect the class ideologyclass ideology of the of the class to which the artist belongs. However, the class to which the artist belongs. However, the ideology of other classes can also affect the ideology of other classes can also affect the artist. artist.
• Class hatredClass hatred is good. C is good. Class collaborationlass collaboration is a bad. is a bad.
II. Revolutionary ChangeII. Revolutionary Change• New classes usually win power by New classes usually win power by revolutionrevolution. .
Revolutions are violent, because the dying ruling Revolutions are violent, because the dying ruling class doesn't give up power without a desperate class doesn't give up power without a desperate struggle. struggle.
• The The capitalist classcapitalist class wins power over the wins power over the feudal feudal classclass by a by a bourgeois democratic revolutionbourgeois democratic revolution. A . A bourgeois democratic revolution is a progressive bourgeois democratic revolution is a progressive step in the right direction. For Marxists, it is not an step in the right direction. For Marxists, it is not an end-all stage.end-all stage.
- French Revolution- French Revolution- Revolutions of 1830 / 1848 - Revolutions of 1830 / 1848
II. Revolutionary ChangeII. Revolutionary Change• The The proletariatproletariat wins power by a wins power by a proletarian proletarian
revolution.revolution. According to Marx and Lenin, this According to Marx and Lenin, this revolution must be violent, because the revolution must be violent, because the bourgeoisiebourgeoisie won't give up power by electoral means. won't give up power by electoral means.
• The proletariat will then begin constructing The proletariat will then begin constructing socialism, socialism, destroying the bourgeoisie and destroying the bourgeoisie and eliminating class differences in the process.eliminating class differences in the process.
- This period is also known as - This period is also known as “the “the dictatorship of dictatorship of the proletariat.” the proletariat.”
• The final stage, the end of history is a classless The final stage, the end of history is a classless society – society – communismcommunism. .
II. Revolutionary ChangeII. Revolutionary Change• SocialismSocialism - The main feature is - The main feature is mixed ownership mixed ownership
of the means of production (with an emphasis on of the means of production (with an emphasis on public), distribution and exchangepublic), distribution and exchange. .
- In the first stages of - In the first stages of socialismsocialism the s the statetate is is a a dictatorship of the dictatorship of the proletariat. proletariat., , i.e. the i.e. the proletariat proletariat rules the other rules the other classes by classes by force. force.
- The - The socialistsocialist slogan is " slogan is "From each From each according to his according to his ability, to each according to ability, to each according to his work.his work." "
II. Revolutionary ChangeII. Revolutionary Change• CommunismCommunism - a system of social organization in which - a system of social organization in which
property (especially real property and the means of property (especially real property and the means of production) is held in common. production) is held in common.
- the movement that aims to overthrow the capitalist - the movement that aims to overthrow the capitalist order order by revolutionary means and to establish a by revolutionary means and to establish a classlessclassless society in society in which all goods will be socially owned. which all goods will be socially owned.
- a system of government in which the state plans - a system of government in which the state plans and controls and controls the economy and a single, often the economy and a single, often authoritarian party holds authoritarian party holds power, claiming to make power, claiming to make progress toward a higher social progress toward a higher social order in which all order in which all goods are equally shared by the people. goods are equally shared by the people.
- The - The communistcommunist slogan is " slogan is "From each according to From each according to his ability, his ability, to each according to his needs. to each according to his needs." "
II. Revolutionary ChangeII. Revolutionary Change• Originally, proletarian (socialist) revolutions Originally, proletarian (socialist) revolutions
were supposed to occur first in the most were supposed to occur first in the most advanced capitalist countries, e.g. advanced capitalist countries, e.g. Germany, Great Britain, the United States, Germany, Great Britain, the United States, France, Belgium, the Netherlands.France, Belgium, the Netherlands.
• It wasn't supposed to occur first in a It wasn't supposed to occur first in a backward country like Russia, where backward country like Russia, where capitalism barely took root, there was a tiny capitalism barely took root, there was a tiny proletariat, an underdeveloped bourgeoisie proletariat, an underdeveloped bourgeoisie and no bourgeois democratic revolution.and no bourgeois democratic revolution.
II. Revolutionary ChangeII. Revolutionary Change
• None of the former or current socialist None of the former or current socialist countries (Russia, China, Cuba, North countries (Russia, China, Cuba, North Korea, Vietnam) had undergone a Korea, Vietnam) had undergone a bourgeois-democraticbourgeois-democratic revolution when revolution when the communists seized power. The the communists seized power. The communists tried to build socialism communists tried to build socialism anyway, and some of their leftist anyway, and some of their leftist rivals used the missing rivals used the missing bourgeois-bourgeois-democratic revolutiondemocratic revolution to predict that to predict that communist power would end badly. communist power would end badly.
III. Marxist EconomicsIII. Marxist Economics
• Under capitalism, workers "tend" to Under capitalism, workers "tend" to be paid the bare amount required for be paid the bare amount required for them to support their families and them to support their families and reproduce. This is because of reproduce. This is because of competition for jobs from the competition for jobs from the reserve reserve army of laborarmy of labor, i.e. the unemployed. , i.e. the unemployed.
III. Marxist EconomicsIII. Marxist Economics
• The capitalist sells the product of the The capitalist sells the product of the workers' labor at a price proportional workers' labor at a price proportional to its to its valuevalue, which is the , which is the socially socially necessary labornecessary labor required to produce required to produce it. it.
• The difference between what the The difference between what the product sells for and what the workers product sells for and what the workers are paid is are paid is surplus valuesurplus value and is and is appropriatedappropriated by the capitalist. by the capitalist.
III. Marxist EconomicsIII. Marxist Economics• Because the workers can't buy the full product of Because the workers can't buy the full product of
their labor and the capitalists don't consume all their labor and the capitalists don't consume all the surplus value, there tend to be recessions. the surplus value, there tend to be recessions.
- This is one of the major reasons why - This is one of the major reasons why capitalist capitalist countries sought overseas colonies countries sought overseas colonies during the during the Industrial Revolution > Imperialism. Industrial Revolution > Imperialism.
• The steady increase in labor saving machinery The steady increase in labor saving machinery creates unemployment and drives down wages. creates unemployment and drives down wages. This emphasizes the tendency for there to be This emphasizes the tendency for there to be economic recessions. economic recessions.
III. Marxist EconomicsIII. Marxist Economics• The tendency to pay the workers bare subsistence The tendency to pay the workers bare subsistence
wages leads to the wages leads to the increasing impoverishment of increasing impoverishment of the proletariatthe proletariat. .
• As a small number of people become super As a small number of people become super wealthy, an even greater number become wealthy, an even greater number become impoverished, polarizing the classes.impoverished, polarizing the classes.
- - “The middle classes must increasingly “The middle classes must increasingly disappear until the world is disappear until the world is
divided into divided into millionaires and paupers.” millionaires and paupers.” (Friedrich Engels)(Friedrich Engels)
IV. The StateIV. The State
• The The statestate is the means whereby the is the means whereby the ruling ruling classclass forcibly maintains its rule over the other forcibly maintains its rule over the other classes. classes.
• During socialism, the workers will take control During socialism, the workers will take control of the state to begin the construction of the state to begin the construction communism > “dictatorship of the proletariat.”communism > “dictatorship of the proletariat.”
• CommunismCommunism, which evolves peacefully from , which evolves peacefully from socialism, is a socialism, is a classless societyclassless society under which under which the the statestate will will wither away.wither away.
V. ReligionV. Religion• God is created in the image of man, not man in the image of God.God is created in the image of man, not man in the image of God.
• Organized religions have been used to give the poor and Organized religions have been used to give the poor and oppressed hope that their afterlife will be better than their current oppressed hope that their afterlife will be better than their current one.one.
• Religion and the Church have been used as forms of social control Religion and the Church have been used as forms of social control to preserve the power of the ruling class.to preserve the power of the ruling class.
• With the establishment of communism, the necessity to believe in With the establishment of communism, the necessity to believe in God and a better life in heaven will disappear. “Heaven will be God and a better life in heaven will disappear. “Heaven will be created on Earth.”created on Earth.”
- Marx believed religion would eventually wither away. - Marx believed religion would eventually wither away. Violent Violent means to suppress organized religion need not be means to suppress organized religion need not be taken.taken.
- - “Religion is the opiate of the masses.”“Religion is the opiate of the masses.”
VI. Marxist Revisionists: VI. Marxist Revisionists: Trade UnionistsTrade Unionists
• Trade unions are good as training Trade unions are good as training grounds for the class struggle, but it is grounds for the class struggle, but it is capitalist ideology to suppose that they capitalist ideology to suppose that they can make any permanent improvement can make any permanent improvement in the condition of the proletariat. in the condition of the proletariat.
• The belief that trade unions can make a The belief that trade unions can make a permanent difference is a heresy called permanent difference is a heresy called economismeconomism or or trade-unionism.trade-unionism.
VI. Marxist Revisionists: VI. Marxist Revisionists: Eduard Bernstein (1850-1932)Eduard Bernstein (1850-1932)
• Argued that it was Argued that it was possible for workers to possible for workers to win power peacefully win power peacefully by winning elections. by winning elections. Revolution was not Revolution was not necessary.necessary.
• This was This was revisionismrevisionism and the orthodox and the orthodox Marxist have used Marxist have used revisionismrevisionism as an as an epithet ever since. epithet ever since.
VII. Marxism-LeninismVII. Marxism-Leninism
VII. Marxism-LeninismVII. Marxism-Leninism• Imperialism is the highest stage of capitalism.Imperialism is the highest stage of capitalism.
- The working class in the - The working class in the mother countriesmother countries is is bribed to keep it passive by bribed to keep it passive by exploiting the labor exploiting the labor of the of the coloniescolonies. This . This explains why the explains why the working class working class became more prosperous in the late became more prosperous in the late 19th 19th and early 20th centuries instead of and early 20th centuries instead of becoming more miserable as a direct reading of becoming more miserable as a direct reading of
Marxist theory might suggest. Marxist theory might suggest.
- The rivalry of the colonial countries - The rivalry of the colonial countries becomes more becomes more and more intense leading to and more intense leading to imperialist warsimperialist wars. WWI . WWI was a prime example. was a prime example.
VII. Marxism-LeninismVII. Marxism-Leninism
• The working class needs to be led by The working class needs to be led by a a vanguard partyvanguard party, i.e. the , i.e. the Communist Communist PartyParty which in turn is led by which in turn is led by professional revolutionaries.professional revolutionaries.
• The leadership of the working class The leadership of the working class by the vanguard party continues into by the vanguard party continues into the period of socialism. the period of socialism.
VII. StalinismVII. Stalinism
• Socialism in One CountrySocialism in One Country- The Soviet Union should concentrate its forces on - The Soviet Union should concentrate its forces on
building building socialism within the country first because socialism within the country first because worldwide worldwide revolution is not imminent. revolution is not imminent.
VII. MaoismVII. Maoism• Mao believed that in a country Mao believed that in a country
like China, the revolution like China, the revolution could proceed first in the could proceed first in the countryside which would countryside which would surround the cities.surround the cities.
• The peasants, not the The peasants, not the workers, could lead a socialist workers, could lead a socialist revolution.revolution.
• emphasized class struggle emphasized class struggle within socialism and its within socialism and its evolution towards communism evolution towards communism to be played out in a series of to be played out in a series of cultural revolutionscultural revolutions. .
VII. Leninist Revisionists: VII. Leninist Revisionists: Fidel Castro & Che GuevaraFidel Castro & Che Guevara
• Socialist revolution DOES Socialist revolution DOES NOT have to be led by a NOT have to be led by a Communist Party.Communist Party.
• Socialist revolution can Socialist revolution can be led by peasants.be led by peasants.
• Soviet Union is obligated Soviet Union is obligated to aid all revolutionary to aid all revolutionary socialist countries looking socialist countries looking to break away from to break away from imperialist domination imperialist domination (Guevara).(Guevara).
VII. Marxist-Leninist VII. Marxist-Leninist Revisionists: Revisionists: Kim Il SungKim Il Sung
• Juche – “self-relianceJuche – “self-reliance””
• A blend of Marxism-Leninism A blend of Marxism-Leninism with Korean nationalism.with Korean nationalism.
• Adaptation of Marxism-Adaptation of Marxism-Leninism to Korean Leninism to Korean conditions.conditions.
• Self-reliance--the need to rely Self-reliance--the need to rely on domestic resources, on domestic resources, heighten vigilance against heighten vigilance against possible external challenges, possible external challenges, and strengthen domestic and strengthen domestic political solidarity.political solidarity.
• Sacrifice, austerity, unity, Sacrifice, austerity, unity, and patriotism became and patriotism became dominant themesdominant themes