Introduction to Marxism and Communism:

Introduction to Marxism and Communism: Adapted from a lecture by Don Pogrebaby Ms. Barnes, 2013.

Directions for lecture • Follow along with the PowerPoint outline note sheet and fill in the blanks. • Whenever you see a slide that is NOT on the note sheet you need to write down what is BOLD AND UNDERLINEDon a separate piece of paper and staple them together. These are collective notes.

Capitalism • An economic system based on private ownership and use of capital (money) • 3 main factors: • Private ownership – people are free to use their capital as they wish • Profit motive – when enough people want a certain product, producers will supply it because they want to make a profit, thus responding to the law of supply and demand • Market Economy – buyers and sellers are free to exchange goods and services, with prices determined by supply and demand

Capitalism continued… • Government does not have control over markets (laissez faire) and on property rights • Capitalism is generally viewed as encouraging economic growth. U.S. technically is more of a mixed economy  Medicaid, Medicare, public ed., etc.

Communism

Communism  Abolish all private property! • A political movement that aims for a classless society structured upon common ownership of goods, free access to goods, and the end of wage labor and private property • Comes from the theory of Marxism by Karl Marx

Why would Marx want something other than capitalism? • Europe in 1843: dirty, poor, no bathing, workers on factory lines for 18hr days, no leisure time, no fun, no pleasure… work, work, work, and for what? • 1-2% of people in society were the luxurious wealthy and 98-99% were breaking their backs to work. • Marx also believed people were controlled by *False Consciousness* and *Alientation.*

False Consciousness • “Religion is the impotence of the human mind to deal with occurrences it cannot understand. --Karl Marx

false consciousness • Marx said that workers are controlled by false ideas that are presented as universal societal values. • Not only are these ideas wrong, they serve an important political function—control of the proletariat. • Caste system of Hinduism  the poor cannot move up. • Christianity  love you enemy; the poor will profit in the next life, etc.

False CONSCIOUSNESS • Patriotism • American Dream • Consumerism • These ideas are wrong and controlling!

ALIENATION • “It is true that labour produces for the rich wonderful things – but for the worker it produces privation. It produces palaces – but for the worker, hovels. It produces beauty -- but for the worker, deformity.” --Karl Marx

Alienation (Separation) • Marx believed that there were three types of alienation in a capitalist society: • First, the worker is alienated from what he produces. • Second, the worker is alienated from himself; only when she is not working does she feel truly herself. • Finally, in capitalist society people are alienated from each other; that is, in a competitive society people are set against other people. • Marx believed that the solution was communism, which would allow the development of our full “potentialities as a human”.

Communism continued… • The Have’s and the Have Not’s • The Have’s  control the production of good and owned most of the wealth; called the bourgeoisie (wealthy class); minority of people with all the wealth • The Have Not’s  do all the labor but get none of the rewards; called the proletariat (working class); majority of people who are poor • Leads to class struggle • Have not’s are taken advantage of by the have’s

REVOLUTION! • Made desperate by their poverty the workers would seize control of the government, take over the means of production, and destroy the capitalist system and the ruling class • Communist Manifesto: “The Communist…openly declare that their ends can be attained only by the forcible overthrow of all existing social condition. Let the ruling classes tremble at a communist revolution. The proletarians have nothing to lose but their chains. They have a world to win. Workers of the world, unite!”

Human economic evolution in history • Tribal system of common property. • “Get Stuff” period of acquiring private things. • Capitalism • Communism • Marx believed we needed to have capitalism to have enough “stuff” to divide between the masses once communism was put in place.

Marx’s plan to implement Communism • Arrive at class consciousness  realize the “man” is getting you down; you are being exploited and taken advantage of by the 1%. • Proletariat will naturally realize this and overthrow the bourgeoisie. • Government will wither away and everyone will share and live happily ever after!

Communism continued… • Once the revolution took place and the government was taken over, changes would be made • Distribution is based on need • Working class is to be the ruling class • True Communism should have a command economy • Decisions about politics and the economy are made in the best interests of the collective society • Every member of society is given equal weight equality

And it goes on… • Historically, communist countries have been dominated by a single political party or have been run by dictators

And on… • Technically, a communist society would have no governments, countries, or class divisions • People would be free from oppression and lack of goods • “Communism” today is used to refer to countries that are run by the Communist Party, regardless of whether or not they follow communist principles

The theory became dominant in the 1900s, with countries such as the Soviet Union, China, Vietnam, Venezuela, Bolivia, Cuba, etc. becoming official communist countries • Communist countries today: • They are not currently practicing the true theory of communism, but are run by the communist party in their country

“In communism, inequality comes from placing the mediocrity on the level of excellence.” –Pierre Joseph Proudhon • Doctor and taxi driver • Teacher and dishwasher • Engineer with trash collector

Socialism • A social market  a “free market” system where government intervention in price formation is kept to a minimum, but the state provides significant social security, unemployment benefits and recognition of labor rights through national collective bargaining laws. • Socialism: good are controlled by the collective but there can still be somewhat of a free market – favors competition • Capitalism: goods are controlled by private ownership – creating competition

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0yDrtNEr_5M

Introduction to Marxism and Communism: