What Is Marxism?

1. Materialism and Historical Development: Marxism is based on historical materialism, the idea that the organization of economic production (the “base”) fundamentally shapes society’s culture, institutions, and political structures (the “superstructure”). Marx argued that society progresses through stages—feudalism, capitalism, socialism, and eventually communism—as each economic system contains inherent contradictions that lead to conflict and transformation. This approach suggests that history is driven by material conditions and the class struggles resulting from economic inequalities.
2. Class Struggle: According to Marx, history is a series of conflicts between the bourgeoisie (owners of the means of production) and the proletariat (working class). Capitalism, Marx argued, is a system that inherently exploits labor by extracting surplus value, which is the difference between the wages paid to workers and the value of goods or services they produce. He predicted that this exploitation would eventually lead to a workers’ revolt and the overthrow of capitalist systems.
3. Alienation: In a capitalist society, Marx believed that workers become alienated from their labor because they have little control over the production process and do not own what they produce. This separation from work and output leads to alienation from their own humanity and other people. Marx argued that only by collectively owning the means of production could individuals truly connect to their labor and regain their full humanity.
4. Revolution and Communism: Marx argued that capitalism would inevitably collapse due to its internal contradictions and be replaced by socialism, a transitional state where the proletariat controls the state. Eventually, this would evolve into communism, a classless, stateless society where resources are distributed based on need, and all people collectively control production. Unlike socialism, communism would theoretically lack a government, as Marx believed that a classless society would naturally operate without the need for state enforcement.

Marxism’s Impact and Evolution

Marxism had a profound influence on 20th-century politics and economics, inspiring revolutions and guiding the development of socialist states, most notably in Russia under Lenin and China under Mao Zedong. These adaptations, often termed Marxist-Leninist or Maoist, deviated from Marx’s original writings by introducing single-party rule and state-centric socialism, prompting debates on whether they fully align with Marx’s vision.

Criticisms and Contemporary Relevance

Critics of Marxism argue that it underestimates human individualism and that communist states, when implemented, have faced issues with efficiency and personal freedoms.