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Marxism
Marxism
Marxism is a political ideology which was developed and propagated chiefly by Karl
Marx and Friedrich Engels, and their followers. It is also referred to as
communism.
Marxism took hold in Russia during World War II. 1982 – 1990 is regarded as its
heyday. However, with the fall of the Soviet Union, the influence of Marxism has
greatly waned. Nevertheless, it continues to live on, in various forms, in different
countries across the world.
A Brief History of Marx
Karl Marx was born to a Jewish family in Traves, Rhineland, Prussia. The family
later converted to Christianity.
He joined the Rhenish Times as an Asst. Editor, and eventually rose to the position
of Editor-in-Chief. However, he soon left due to differences with the owners of the
newspaper. After his marriage in 1843, he moved to France to study socialism.
In 1848, Marx and Engels jointly released the Communist Manifesto, in which they
gave a clarion call thus – “Workers of the world, unite! You have nothing to lose
except your chains of slavery.” In 1867, Marx published the first volume of another
book, Das Capital. The other two volumes of this book were published only after
his death by Engels.
He finally went to live – in exile – in London, where he spent his last years in
poverty.
Principles of Marxism
A. Dialectical Materialism
Marx, and therefore Marxism itself, was greatly influenced by the philosophy of
Hegel, an idealist. This eventually led to the development of dialectical
materialism, which is a key philosophy of Marxism.
There occur many ideas in the human mind at any particular time, the prominent
ones amongst which are known as the thesis. These are soon opposed by
conflicting ideas which also arise, which are known as the anti-thesis. The clash
between the two ultimately results in a particular result, which is the synthesis.
For instance, if the thesis is laying importance on capital, and the anti-thesis is laying
importance on labour, the synthesis that will occur thus is class war.
It is man’s material needs which has led him to create history as we know it today,
for only when man has satisfied his material needs can he focus on “higher”
pursuits.
According to Marx, the value of a commodity is equal to the wages paid to the
labourer. Any monetary value attributed to a commodity over and above this value
is its surplus value – which is inherently unnecessary and exploitative.
For instance, if the wages paid to the labourer is ₹ 1000, and the product is sold for
₹ 3000, the surplus value is ₹ 2000 – which is an illegitimate profit.
1. The bourgeoise – who control the factors of production, and buy the labour
of others.
2. The proletariat, i.e. the workers – who do not own or control any factors of
production, and instead sell their labour.
E. Concentration of Capital
The rich are progressively increasing the capital in their hands, and the poor are
getting poorer. This is resulting in a widening gulf between the rich and the poor,
and the concentration of capital in the hands of a few.
F. Inevitability of Revolution
As the society is divided into classes, and the bourgeois continue to exploit the
proletariat, revolution by the latter against the former is inevitable.
G. Dictatorship of the Proletariat
After the revolution which is inevitable, the capitalists will be suppressed, and the
dictatorship of the proletariat will be established. They will, with the help of the
State, weed out any capitalists who may be left over, and thus establish their rule.
A classless society will thus be established. When class disappears, there will arise
no more conflicts between people. Hence, the State itself will wither away as there
is no longer any need for it to exist and maintain order and harmony amongst the
people.
Religion makes people sway to sentiments. It is a tool in the hands of the capitalists
to exploit the masses. Hence, Marx didn’t mince words in advocating for the
abolition of the institution of religion itself.
Merits of Marxism
Workers across the world found a messiah for their cause in Marx. Indeed,
Marxism has had a great impact all through the world, and has changed the
course of history itself. Though Marx himself did not engineer a revolution,
he provided the necessary explosive material for communist revolutions
across the world while would follow.
Marxism has also been majorly criticised by its detractors. The major critiques of
Marxism are as follows: