Presented by Alexeyev A.

Personal Information
Karl Marx was born on May 5, 1818, in Trier, Germany, into a middle-
class family. He studied law and philosophy at the universities of
Bonn and Berlin, where he became interested in the works of
philosophers such as Hegel and Feuerbach. Marx later moved to
Cologne, where he worked as a journalist and became involved
with radical political groups.

Marx's ideas had a profound impact on political thought and

movements worldwide, shaping the course of the labor
movement, socialist and communist revolutions, and academic
discourse in fields such as sociology, economics, and political
science. He is considered one of the most influential figures in
modern history, known for his contributions as a philosopher,
economist, and revolutionary thinker.
 Main Quotations
1. "The oppressed are allowed once every few years to decide which particular
representatives of the oppressing class are to represent and repress them."
- Karl Marx, "The Communist Manifesto"

2. "Accumulation of wealth at one pole is at the same time accumulation of

misery, agony of toil, slavery, ignorance, brutality, mental degradation, at the
opposite pole."
- Karl Marx, "Das Kapital"

3. "The theory of the Communists may be summed up in the single sentence:

Abolition of private property."
- Karl Marx, "The Communist Manifesto"

These quotes illustrate Marx's critical perspective on the role of the wealthy in perpetuating
social and economic inequality, emphasizing the exploitation of the working class by the
ruling elite.
 Main Works, Books
Das Kapital - It contains a critical analysis of capitalism. The first publication was in 1867. The simplest
definition that Marx gives him is: "Capital is a self—increasing value."
Also here is “The Communist Manifesto”, and "The Poverty of Philosophy."

These works collectively shaped Marx's perspective on the role of the wealthy in society by providing
a comprehensive analysis of the capitalist mode of production, exposing its injustices, and
advocating for revolutionary change to achieve social and economic equality.
 Theoretical Contribution to
International Relations:
Karl Marx's theoretical contributions to international relations can be summarized as
follows:

1. Class Struggle: 2. Imperialism: Marx 3. Economic 4. Role of the State:

Marx saw global analyzed Determinism: Marx Marx viewed the state
politics through the imperialism as believed that as a tool of the ruling
lens of class conflict, capitalist economic relations class, using coercion to
where the expansionism driven determined social maintain capitalist
bourgeoisie (wealthy by the need for and political domination
capitalist class) markets and structures, with states domestically and
exploits the resources, leading to serving the interests internationally, through
proletariat (working exploitation and of the ruling policies like military
class) both exacerbating global bourgeoisie in interventions and trade
domestically and inequalities. advancing capitalist agreements.
internationally. accumulation.
 Criticism or Contemporary Importance
Critics point to the failures of some Marxist regimes and the potential for authoritarianism
as drawbacks to Marx's views on the role of rich people. Despite this, Marx's ideas remain
relevant in addressing contemporary issues of wealth inequality and class struggle.

1. Failure of Marxist Regimes: Instances like the Soviet Union and Maoist China illustrate
how attempts to implement Marxist principles led to economic inefficiency and political
repression, highlighting the challenges of translating theory into practice.

2. Potential for Authoritarianism: Marx's emphasis on revolutionary change has raised

concerns about authoritarianism, as seen in the concentration of power and suppression
of dissent in some Marxist movements.

However, Marx's insights into wealth inequality and class struggle remain pertinent. His
analysis of capitalism's tendency to concentrate wealth and power provides a lens for
understanding contemporary economic injustices. Additionally, his concept of class
struggle offers a framework for addressing modern challenges and advancing social
justice movements on a global scale.
 Conclusion:
Lessons Learned
Karl Marx's perspective emphasizes the importance
of understanding economic structures and power
dynamics in shaping international relations. His
analysis highlights how capitalism concentrates
wealth and power, leading to exploitation globally.
Marx's ideas remain relevant in advocating for
social justice and equality by critiquing capitalism
and inspiring movements for economic democracy
and change worldwide.