Marxism

From RationalWiki

Marxism is any philosophy based primarily on the theories of Karl Marx, although Marx himself is quoted as saying that "if anything is certain, it is that I myself am not a Marxist" in relation to how his teachings were being misunderstood or misapplied.

Marxism derives from Marx's philosophy as outlined especially in The Communist Manifesto (1848), and to a lesser extent Das Kapital (1867 to 1894). The Marxist view of society focuses on economic and class relationships and the role of the working class (or 'proletariat'). Marx characterised human history as a progression from forms such as slavery and feudalism, in which the proletariat was exploited by an aristocratic (and parasitic) minority, to a capitalist society in which the middle classes (or 'bourgeoisie') intensified the exploitation of the workers. Marx believed that if the working class united with a growing sense of class consciousness and political awareness, they could achieve a revolution to establish a classless society.

Since Marx co-authored The Communist Manifesto with Friedrich Engels, Marxism is sometimes used synonymously with communism. It is important to note that the state capitalist governments of the twentieth century, imposed by coup d'etat and enforced with totalitarianism, paid homage to Marx, but did not reflect Marx's vision of communism, in which revolution would be achieved more organically by an international socialist proletariat majority who would implement democratic self-government. For this reason some communists may identify themselves as Marxists in order to distance themselves from the atrocities of Stalinism and other state capitalist states.

Marxism can also refer to schools of thought and study which adopt Marx's vision of society and progress, without necessarily being explicitly communist. For example, Marxist historians focus on economic relationships and progress in history, and believe economic motivations and class consciousness to be the most important underlying causes of change. Marxist history is a school of social history, focusing primarily on the conditions of the (working class) majority rather than on the deeds of kings and leaders. There are similar Marxist forms of sociology and cultural theory.