History of Marxism
1. Marxism’s foundational concepts were developed in the mid-19th century by German intellectuals Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels. Marxism’s core tenets were established by his well-known works, including “Das Kapital” and “The Communist Manifesto” (1848).
2. The Industrial Revolution brought about significant social and economic changes that resulted in the emergence of capitalism and the mistreatment of workers. These changes gave rise to Marxism. Marx and Engels thought that inequality and other issues were inherent to capitalism and would eventually cause it to collapse.
3. Those who wanted to see social change started to adopt Karl Marx’s theories, or Marxism, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. His ideas, which advocated for uprisings against the affluent classes (capitalists) and the establishment of a society in which everyone shared resources and money equitably, were adopted by the European labour and socialist movements.
4. Marxism had an impact on the Russian Revolution in 1917. The Soviet Union, the first nation to apply Marx’s theories, was founded as a result of the revolution. Other worldwide revolutions, including those in China, Cuba, Vietnam, and other African and Latin American nations, have also been influenced by Marxist ideas.
5. Marxism has changed over time as many groups have created their adaptations and interpretations. As a result, many Marxist ideologies have emerged, including Maoism, Trotskyism, and Leninism. These modifications represent various strategies for bringing about revolutionary change as well as various readings of Marxist theory in various social and political circumstances.
6. Marxism was also criticised and revised throughout the 20th century, mostly as a result of the difficulties socialist experiments encountered in real life. New approaches to applying Marxist principles to contemporary challenges such as environmental conservation, gender equality, colonialism, and imperialism have been investigated by academics and activists.
7. Marxism’s ideas continue to have an impact on political discussions, grassroots action, and scholarly research, even though governments affected by it have frequently failed and their acceptance has decreased in some areas. It continues to be a major motivator in the struggle for wealth distribution equity and social justice.