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Summary Marxism
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Summary of 2 pages for the course Politics at QUB (Marxism)
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Para Key Points Key PointsIntro Power - ability to get someone do something that they may not do Karl Marx - The Communist Manifesto 1848 -
voluntarily. challenge established pluralist theory.
Most political systems - not based solely on authoritarianism, where Put forward - critique pluralist + capitalist ideas +
subjects - coerced into compliance. offered - radical solution to monopolising of political
Political ideologies - win over people's hearts + minds, obey the law power by wealth class.
own free will. I will now examine, main tenants, evidence they may
However, throughout history - several competing theories emerged as point to + how other theories disagree.
to both how political power works in reality + how it should operate.
1- Economic determinism - control MOP = control political power. Long hours - opportunities for better things in life.
Wha Economic wealth = political power. Marx - silly to educate workers for better life +
t do No objective more important - economic well being. deprive them of it.
they Root of all inequality - private ownership -property, replaced by Economic position determined - class + ability to
say? collectivised/shared ownership. have reasonable life.
No individual - go without. Dialectical Materialism - basic laws of universe.
Engels - study working conditions concluded - working people mid- Dialectic - argument between 2 diametrically
19thC = difficult to fulfil themselves. opposed positions.
2 Id. 6 distinct periods in history. Last 3 below. Communism - equality understood + no remaining
Capitalism - bourgeoisie - developed system - fake democracies + bourgeois, no need coercive institutions of State.
gave people impression of involvement. Other countries passed through socialist stage +
Bourgeoisie - full control - controlled economic wealth. harmony of workers in all nations.
Marx - system own seeds of inevitable destruction. Workers of world unite - you have nothing to lose but
Demands - modern industry - level of education gave workers insight your chains.
into system which oppressed them. No need - defensive capabilities + state - wither
Urban proletariat would rise + destroy capitalist society. away + laws developed, not by central institutions
Socialism - Need rid society of bourgeois + re-educate + resocialise but by cooperative workers + communities.
workers, thus dictatorship proletariat needed.
Only when completed, the final stage can be entered.
3- Orthodox Marxists - inherent tension - political equality which liberal Marxists – elite theorists wrong – analysis of human
Evid democracy proclaims + social inequality capitalism generates. nature + democracy.
ence Traditional Marxists - consistent privilege + priority to big business + Agrees with elite theorists – capitalist democracies,
capitalist/bourgeois democracies = controlled by entrenched power those well born; monied + educated achieve most.
of private property. Marxists argues – capitalism – those who make the
Recognising electoral democracy - masses a voice + vehicle -social gold, make the rules.
change. Argue – bourgeoisie = dominant group. Ruling class
Spread of inertia, apathy + breakdown of community - evidence controls – political establishment.
growing gulf between gov. + people. Marxists do not accept – situation is
Liberal democracy - reduced participation - meaningless ritual, voting inevitable/inexorable.
every 5yrs for politicians only replaced by other self-serving Abolish capitalism - abolish class system.
politicians.
4 MOP, distribution + exchange fall into hands of masses, human Marxists – contrast policies of MNC’s + democratic
nature – transformed + old elites will disappear. nations Gov.’s work with private charitable
Argue globalisation + world trade – allowed bourgeoisie – extend organisations – fair-trade.
sphere of influence. MNC’s – Nike, Coca-Cola + BP – take advantage of
Wealthy capitalist continue exploit weaker + vulnerable states. cheap labour + lax employment laws.
International conflict – capitalist allies quick into Iraq – frightened oil Trend – supported Marxist criticism of capitalist
supplies were affected. states – rely of exploitation + oppression either at
Performance of MNC – undermined. Western allies – less interested home/abroad.
into entering Yugoslavia – less strategically important. Also connects – ‘surplus value’ argument –
production of any goods, the workers who actually
produce – get a fraction of their market worth.
5- Predicted dialectic demanded revolution take place first in society – Communist countries – China, N.Korea + Cuba –
Criticis gone furthest through capitalist system + expected Britain/Germany criticism by HR groups e.g. Amnesty International +
ms of
Marxis – first Communist revolution – did not occur. Liberty – arbitrary arrests, concentration camps,
t First communist revolution – Russia 1917. torture + murder upon religious minorities + political
Theory
Communist regimes – not experienced full backing of populations + opponents.
rely coercion upon failure get subjects to buy into effectiveness of Failed match economic progress capitalist countries
ideology. – mid 20th century + forced to adopt mixed
Stalin – bloody purges – liquidated anyone who posed a threat. economy/abandoned communism completely.
Soldiers, party workers etc. – executed + Stalin 15-20 million people Marxists – dismiss whole democratic political system
killed 1930’s-40’s. as a sham but is it?
Communist Party Kampuchea/Khmer Rouge – lead by Pol Pot. Ignore real + substantial changes by capitalist states
Cambodia genocide – official state policy + 1.7-2.2 million died out of – that working class have benefited e.g. welfare
pop. 8 million. state, state education + employment laws etc.
0.5-1 million starved to death/perished from overwork. Ruling class not only a feature of capitalist society –
Academics - Karl Popper + Francis Fukuyama argue Marx's prediction power concentrated at top in socialist societies e.g.
- failed. Marx predicted - wages depreciate + capitalist economies - China – communist party.
worsening economic crises = overthrow of capitalists system. Socialist revolution - first occur in advanced capitalist
nations + once collective ownership was established
all sources - class would disappear.
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