Three Features of Marxism
Economic Determinism:
Control means of production = political power + economic power = political power.
No objective more important than basic goal - economic well being.
'Economic determinism' = class beliefs are determined by relationship with 'means of production
(MOP).
Ownership MOP = bourgeoisie.
Proletariat - no relationship with means of production apart from manual labour - always surplus in
capitalist economy.
Capitalist society = exploitation of workers.
Friedrich Engels (1820-95) produced most damning indictments of capitalism: The Condition of the
Working Classes - study of social conditions in British working class - Victorian years.
Role of material antagonism - force operation social life + nature - rise to dialectical materialism =
brand of Marxism.
Portraying Marxism - specific set of historical laws.
Dialectical Materialism:
Analysis of history - man in society - basic laws of universe - dialectic materialism.
Dialectic - argument between 2 diametrically opposed positions.
Id. six distinct periods - different type of conflict dialectic characterising them.
Believed - 'all history is the history of class struggle'.
Believed capitalism - destroyed by internal contradictions between bourgeoisie + proletariat.
Contain seeds of own inevitable destruction.
Demands 'modern' industry - required level of education, workers - insight into system which
oppressed them.
Class war - destroy capitalism in proletarian revolution - abolishment of private property +
establishment classless, communist society.
Nicholai Lenin - led Bolshevik Revolution 1917 - heralded advent first communist state - rethought
Marxist doctrine - revolution occur in developed capitalist society.
Lenin argued - Russia not a fully into capitalist society could still experience revolution against ruling
class.
Proletariat - not be source or revolt, but create by an elite.
Elite of intellectuals, workers + students form - Vanguard of the Proletariat.
Period of socialism - state controlled by workers, longer than Marx foreseen but state would wither
away + true Communist society would arrive.
Democracy is a Facade:
Democracy - sham ensure capitalist state - revolution proof.
Argue modern political landscape - dominated by corporate interest - lobbying politicians.
Obama - $1 billion elections funds - 2012 campaign.
Connections - corporations + elected officials e.g. before VP Dick Cheney - CEO Halliburton Group.
Election - choice between competing elites + politics - puppets of wealthy owners of MOP.
Representatives - proletariat class elected in capitalist country - limited power over country's affairs -
economic sphere controlled private capital + power = curtailed.
Inability W.Gov's stop private banks - bailed out by tax payers from paying multi-million bonuses
after near collapse.
Marxists - egalitarian, class less society, all private property = abolished.
State - wither away + true liberty.
Elections - unnecessary + undesirable.
Economic Determinism:
Control means of production = political power + economic power = political power.
No objective more important than basic goal - economic well being.
'Economic determinism' = class beliefs are determined by relationship with 'means of production
(MOP).
Ownership MOP = bourgeoisie.
Proletariat - no relationship with means of production apart from manual labour - always surplus in
capitalist economy.
Capitalist society = exploitation of workers.
Friedrich Engels (1820-95) produced most damning indictments of capitalism: The Condition of the
Working Classes - study of social conditions in British working class - Victorian years.
Role of material antagonism - force operation social life + nature - rise to dialectical materialism =
brand of Marxism.
Portraying Marxism - specific set of historical laws.
Dialectical Materialism:
Analysis of history - man in society - basic laws of universe - dialectic materialism.
Dialectic - argument between 2 diametrically opposed positions.
Id. six distinct periods - different type of conflict dialectic characterising them.
Believed - 'all history is the history of class struggle'.
Believed capitalism - destroyed by internal contradictions between bourgeoisie + proletariat.
Contain seeds of own inevitable destruction.
Demands 'modern' industry - required level of education, workers - insight into system which
oppressed them.
Class war - destroy capitalism in proletarian revolution - abolishment of private property +
establishment classless, communist society.
Nicholai Lenin - led Bolshevik Revolution 1917 - heralded advent first communist state - rethought
Marxist doctrine - revolution occur in developed capitalist society.
Lenin argued - Russia not a fully into capitalist society could still experience revolution against ruling
class.
Proletariat - not be source or revolt, but create by an elite.
Elite of intellectuals, workers + students form - Vanguard of the Proletariat.
Period of socialism - state controlled by workers, longer than Marx foreseen but state would wither
away + true Communist society would arrive.
Democracy is a Facade:
Democracy - sham ensure capitalist state - revolution proof.
Argue modern political landscape - dominated by corporate interest - lobbying politicians.
Obama - $1 billion elections funds - 2012 campaign.
Connections - corporations + elected officials e.g. before VP Dick Cheney - CEO Halliburton Group.
Election - choice between competing elites + politics - puppets of wealthy owners of MOP.
Representatives - proletariat class elected in capitalist country - limited power over country's affairs -
economic sphere controlled private capital + power = curtailed.
Inability W.Gov's stop private banks - bailed out by tax payers from paying multi-million bonuses
after near collapse.
Marxists - egalitarian, class less society, all private property = abolished.
State - wither away + true liberty.
Elections - unnecessary + undesirable.
