Political Science 101

Marxism

Visit the Marxist resources online - don't limit yourself to the links on the class page.

Unlike the earlier utopian socialists, with their detailed blueprints, Marx refused to write "recipes for the kitchens of the future." (Capital, vol 1, p. 17.) Marx thought that the future could only be decided by the people who would inhabit it. In his German Ideology he did envision a future society in which every human being, not just a fortunate few, will be free to become well-rounded Renaissance figures

In communist society, where nobody has one exclusive sphere of activity but each can become accomplished in any branch he wishes, society regulates the general production and makes it possible for me to do one thing today and another tomorrow, to hunt in the morning, fish in the afternoon, rear cattle in the evening, criticize after dinner, just as I please, without ever becoming hunter, fisherman, shepherd or critic. (German Ideology, p. 22.)

Questions to consider in Marx:

1. What is history?

2. How has bourgeoisie been revolutionary?

3. What is the proletariat and where do they come from?

4. Why are the proletariat revolutionary and how will they overthrow the bourgeoisie.

5. What is property and what do the communists want to do with it?

6. How does Material existence affect society?

7. Why did Marx write this?

8. How does this relate to 19th century intellectualism?

9. How does Marx critique individualism?

10. How do you feel about the overall thesis?

How does the Communist Manifesto relate to the works we read earlier, Utopia and The Prince? How practical is this political solution? What role, if any, should government play in the economy?