Marxism

Marxism is many things to many people to some it is good, some think it is bad, others call it a political philosophy, or a science, some will even go as far as to call it a way of life. But who created Marxism, what is Marxism, and how does Marxism affect us today.

            Marxism got its start when Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels published the Communist Manifesto. The writing tries to explain the goals of Communism, while simultaneously calling for the workers of the world to revolt. Coincidently when it was printed in 1848, there were revolutions in France, Germany, Austria, and Hungary, this year is known as the year of revolutions. The last line of the manifesto stated “Workers of all countries, Unite!”

            Marxism did not only get around from the Communist Manifesto. It also got around when Marx went to Germany and started to publish editions of Neue Rheinische Zeitung. Which also encouraged revolution. This did not go unnoticed by the government in Germany. They accused him of high treason for encouraging the people not to pay taxes, but Marx made such an eloquent speech that the jury acquitted him and some of the jury even thanked him for informing them. Nevertheless, he was expelled from Germany and the last issue of Neue Rheinische Zeitung was printed in red.

            To truly explain Marxism it would take volumes because there are so many different branches of Marxism. So in short, Marxism is against social classes, saying that because man must belong to one of the social classes he becomes alienated from his true self. Also, it is against making the rich richer and the poor poorer saying that “the ideal state would reconcile individual needs with universal needs…” The essence of Marxism though is all about freedom but Marx idea of freedom is more then most would think it, in A Guide to Marxism by Joseph Martin it sates, “… to Marx, freedom did not denote freedom to own and acquire property, freedom to better oneself materially, freedom of religion, and so on. On the contrary, it meant freedom from craving for possessions and from competitive acquisitiveness…”

            Marxism has played a big role in the development of today’s countries. Marx being that he brought about the idea of Communism means that communism itself is a form of Marxism. Which is believable since Marxism wants to abolish social classes and just make one class where everyone can be equals. Just a couple of nations that practice communism are China, and North Korea. Communism even was practiced in the former Soviet Union. Many think that Marxism and Communism is bad for all the bad things that some communist countries have done, but its not Marxism or Communism that caused any of that turmoil. It was the leaders of those countries who used their power for their benefit.

            As you can see, Marxism is a powerful subject that is difficult to portray for the many different ways it is interpreted. All Marxism really is though is the dream for an idealistic world and Karl Marx spent his whole life of sixty-five years to try and make that dream a reality. A dream that many others try to realize as well.