Marxism is the name given to the set of political, social, philosophical and economic analyses formulated by Karl Marx and his close friend Friedrich Engles during the 19th Century - ideas which remain influential across the world today.
The basic tenets of Marxist thought hold that history is best understood in terms of class struggle and that the material forces of production in a society forms the dominating influence on the cultural/ideological superstructure of any given society - the mode of production determines the mode of life; for example a nomadic peoples culture will be centred around journeying to find fresh food and pasture, wheras a settled agricultural peoples society will be formed on the basis of their own mode of production. The dominant class in a society, which appropriates the surplus economic product of that society creates and supports the dominant ideology of their society, reinforcing their posisition at its top.
The surplus product of a society is the unpaid labour of the working classes - all those who do not own the means of production and whom must sell their labour in return for wages in order to survive. Capitalists buy this labour under its value which create profit. Eventually this leads to a crisis of 'overproduction' ofteb referred to as a 'recession' or 'slump', at which point the workers are abandoned as they are not employed for either a social need or for personal satisfaction - but for the generation of greater profits.
A Marxist state has never existed and is an oxymoron, as is Communist State, etc etc.
Marxism is a democratic ideology, beleiving that only the movement of the vast majority in individual nations and accross the world can overturn capitalism and create a world organised to provide for need, where a person is not tied like a serf forever to one job no matter how demeaning or pointless and where people give and take "From each according to his ability, to each according to his need".
The basic tenets of Marxist thought hold that history is best understood in terms of class struggle and that the material forces of production in a society forms the dominating influence on the cultural/ideological superstructure of any given society - the mode of production determines the mode of life; for example a nomadic peoples culture will be centred around journeying to find fresh food and pasture, wheras a settled agricultural peoples society will be formed on the basis of their own mode of production. The dominant class in a society, which appropriates the surplus economic product of that society creates and supports the dominant ideology of their society, reinforcing their posisition at its top.
The surplus product of a society is the unpaid labour of the working classes - all those who do not own the means of production and whom must sell their labour in return for wages in order to survive. Capitalists buy this labour under its value which create profit. Eventually this leads to a crisis of 'overproduction' ofteb referred to as a 'recession' or 'slump', at which point the workers are abandoned as they are not employed for either a social need or for personal satisfaction - but for the generation of greater profits.
A Marxist state has never existed and is an oxymoron, as is Communist State, etc etc.
Marxism is a democratic ideology, beleiving that only the movement of the vast majority in individual nations and accross the world can overturn capitalism and create a world organised to provide for need, where a person is not tied like a serf forever to one job no matter how demeaning or pointless and where people give and take "From each according to his ability, to each according to his need".
Marxism shows us that a handful of super rich individuals and companies determine the fate of national democracies and of the world - a world which is being eaten to death by the capitalist system of economic organisation.
by Michael86 April 29, 2007
Get the Marxism mug.A seemingly far-fetched scenario in which there are no rational choices to resolve it and no rational explanation for how it came into being in the first place.
I either have to move across the country in two weeks, or be unemployed for a year.
The professor never taught from the book, then his midterm was on nothing but the book, so 95% of the class failed.
The professor never taught from the book, then his midterm was on nothing but the book, so 95% of the class failed.
by Guy Incognito November 11, 2003
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Get the macism mug.In short it's the real communism. Sadly the view of communism has been butchered by society and is now viewed as the mass killing of Russians and Chinese. Everyone can agree that Stalin had it wrong, so did Mao. But let's not forget the true words of Marx. So go ahead hate communism but don't let Marx get the blunt of your insults. Read the manifesto and see what was supposed to happen.
by luc/boots December 6, 2006
Get the marxism mug.Macism. The belief that Macs are better than PCs...all lies. As all of us computer nerds know, there has been a long-time battle between Microsoft (makers of the PC) and Apple (responsible for the Mac). And clearly Microsoft has the upper hand.
by Nimrod1 February 14, 2006
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Pro-Contraception
Pro-Suicide
Pro-Cannibalism
Pro-Euthanasia
Pro-Abortion
Pro-Gay Marriage
Pro-Poligamy
Pro-Anarchy
Pro-Atheism
Pro-Internationalism
Anti-Racism
Anti-Homophobia
Anti-Obesity
Anti-Celibacy
Anti-Bush
Anti-War
Anti-Stupidity
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Pro-Contraception
Pro-Suicide
Pro-Cannibalism
Pro-Euthanasia
Pro-Abortion
Pro-Gay Marriage
Pro-Poligamy
Pro-Anarchy
Pro-Atheism
Pro-Internationalism
Anti-Racism
Anti-Homophobia
Anti-Obesity
Anti-Celibacy
Anti-Bush
Anti-War
Anti-Stupidity
Anti-Catholocism
Anti-Incest
Anti-Mississippi
by sexay laday May 1, 2004
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