marxist ideology
what is it?
history is based on class struggles - historical materialism / economic determinism
examine the impact of capitalism on labour + productivity + economic development
"to each according to their needs, for each according to their ability"
context post wwi
USSR the only country who took swift and decisive action against Hitler
what is it's appeal?
equality for all, proletariat of the world
US dislikes Marxism and Communism - the redistribution of wealth of wealth is a threat to a capitalist society - bootstrap narrative
allegiance to the ideology vs allegiance to religion - belief is in the principles and theory of marxism rather than in an invisible deity - the figureheads of communist countries become like deities exg. mao, stalin, ho chi minh - the state and marxist ideology replaces what is seen as the weakness of religion
a voice 4 the people so they can maintain the basic necessities of life - no poverty under marxism
marxist history gives you a direct way of how to study history - start with economy, which gives u an anchor/starting point - look at economy as the basis for society
however, this pov is not nuanced because u may be coming in with predetermined conclusions and read into the texts
alternative to the status quo at the time - taking theoretical concept and trying to give it practical undertaking -
the USSR's great experiment of marxism in practice and the idealist intellectuals being drawn to it and the practicalities e.g oxford english marxist historian association blah blah
the Red Scare - equating capitalism to democracy and communist as undermining the foundation of democracy
countries that are in the process of decolonisation and fighting for sovereignty will tend to adopt communism to ideologically overthrow the oppressors
widespread ideological disillusionment - post 1945 thru ww2 - USSR ideologically spreading into eastern europe, against facism, against nazi regime, now a cold war of ideology manifests
at what point is marxist ideology working? when do you introduce it into a society?
depends on what stage a country is in - people are trying to break free of oppressed - revolution vibes - a country needs an established capitalist state first in order to redistribute wealth for communism