|
|
This is only a preview of the paper
Click here to register and get the full text.
Existing members click here to login
|
|
|
IS MARXISM DEAD?
To answer this question I shall firstly offer a very brief description of what Marxism is. ... In defence of the ideology I will show that Marxism still has some relevance today by offering examples of how the ideology draws our attention to contemporary political problems as well as being a useful tool for political analysis. I will conclude by saying that Marxism is not as of yet dead in the full sense of the word but it is now widely seen as nothing more than a text book ideology unable to be successfully executed at state level.
In relation to this question I feel Marxism can be loosely defined as a political and economic philosophy that claims class struggle will result in the overthrow of capitalism thus paving the way for the inevitable onset of a classless society called communism. Marxism believes that in frustration the urban working class will overthrow the bourgeoise as the inherent contradictions of capitalism leads to ever worsening living and working conditions. ...
Many would say Marxism’s light really went out when the Union Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) collapsed and that Fukuyama’s criticism of the ideology, which I shall address later, really signalled the end. However, I believe the current crisis in Marxism can be traced back to the butchery carried out by Stalin in the USSR and the Pol Pot regime in Cambodia. ... ” Despite denouncements of Stalin since by leaders of the USSR I feel this fundamentally undermined Marxism as it showed the dangers of taking ideology too far. ... The absurdities of their racial policies were exposed by the Holocaust leaving the ideology dead. In the same way the dangers of Marxism’s scientific basis which reduced man to matter was highlighted by the casualties of Stalin and Pol Pot. These atrocities make a mockery of Marxism’s claims about emancipating workers. Marxism will always be associated with blood shed and tyranny in a way that conservatism or liberalism won’t.
A further reason why Marxism is unlikely to make a comeback in practice is that its predictions regarding increased worker impoverishment and a growing class consciousness failed to develop.
Approximate Word count = 1785
Approximate Pages = 7.1
(250 words per page double spaced)
|
|
|
|
|
|