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' Despite the demise of the Soviet bloc, Marxism is still a useful theory

for understanding politics in contemporary societies '. Discuss.

Word count: 987

Abstract

Marxism as a theory was born in the end of 19th century. Karl Marx -

father of Marxism summarized it with one simple sentence 'from each

according to his ability, to each according to his need'.In his opinion,

society should be divided into two ruling ( capitalist ) and working

(proletariat) classes and economic development should be based on

materialism since economy, in his view, influences other social

expressions. Marxism theory not only gave a big inspiration to different

fields of science such as politic,literature or archeology but also was a start

for new ideologies such as communism to emerge. Although Marxism

collapsed together with USSR, its' heritage can be found nowadays. This

essay will show that Marxism is not irrelevant in todays societies by

exploring its' impact and giving examples of the Marxism traces in

nowadays USA.

Introduction

According to Leon Trotsky, Russian Marxist and the head of the Red

Army, the end of communism was obvious and inevitable. He foresaw its

collapse already in 1930 by stating that 'a nationalized planned economy

needs democracy as the human body requires oxygen'. And, indeed, he

was right. After its demise, Marx theories experienced failure. It was

believed that it was time for new chapter of world history to be turned. As

Francis Fukuyama wrote in his book The End of History (1992) - ' the

passing of Marxism-Leninism first from China and then from the Soviet

Union will mean its death as a living ideology of world historical

significance'. However, it is not possible for all important past events to be

vanished from the memory of world history, including Marxism. There

are evidences that Marxists ideas and works have an influence on todayssocieties.

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Since Marxism was concentrated on economy and composition of the

class, it helps better to understand why nowadays prosperous people

continue to hold a great part of economic power. Contemporary Marxists

believe, that values and intensions to get as much benefit as it is possible- of todays owners remained the same as in Marxism era. Moreover, they

claim that although it was tried to decrease the power of capitalist class by

nationalisation, private property of capitalist has not been affected or they

did get large compensations. They even believe that private sector is going

to be sponsored by nationalized sector since the later had employed the

possessors of private property. Furthermore, todays Marxists do not see a

significant changes in capitalist class since wealth was realloctaed between

rich families not affecting poor people which has not reduced the power of

the rich. According to Ralph Miliband, the inequality between rich and

poor is going to continue, because there are no difficulties for '

Bourgeoisie' to transfer their economic power to their next generation

( children). He also claims, that State institutions, such as local and central

government, the police, military and others are commanded by Elites,

which put priorities first to their interests and then to ordinary people.

Looking from the perspective of education, children of the elite have more

opportunities to attend prestigious universities and schools and remain in

the upper class, while children from the working class have to fight to get

there. So it is obvious that Marxism theory of classes structure is relevant

in todays society and that power of economy is still divided among classes.

Marxism has also an influence on todays United States society. First it had

an effect on principal revoliution of women deliverance in America in 19th

century, which encouraged women to stand up and fight against the

discrimination of men. As Marxism ideology claims, staying at home and

looking after children is not essential women duty. With such an inspiring

speech, marxists wanted to create a society without classes, where all

working class people would be equal and equality nowadays is the thing

women movements are fighting for. The best quote, reflecting the aim of

this idea belongs to Nikolai Lenin - ' The success of a revolution depends

upon the degree of participation by woman '. Secondly, according to

Father John A. Hardson, Marxism has affected the religious side in USA,

starting with education. As V. Lenin said ' Marxism is materialism' and ' as

such, it is as relentlessly hostile to religion as the materialism of the

encyclopaedists of the eighteenth century or the materialism of Feuerbach'.Hardson believes, that such philosophy was adapted in USA since in 1976

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a National Education Association was inspired by writer William Foster,

Marxist politician, who stated that academic system should be '

revolutionized, cleansed of religious, patriotic and other features of the

bourgeois ideology The students will be taught on the basis of Marxian

dialectical materialism, internationalism, and general ethics of the newSocialist society'. This ideology resulted in closure of Catholic schools and

parents no longer could educate their children at home. Those who did not

followed this commandment felt pressure from State and Church as well.

Father Hardson explains that that is why nowadays religion is removed

from schools by American law and Catholic schools do not get any support

from state. As John Dewey, philosopher and academic reformer, concludes

Church in USA is governable to State.

The proof that Marx theories are not forgotten can be supported by some

evident facts. All over the world the process of nationalisation is still

running. In 2011, venesuelan president Hugo Chavez gave an

announcment about the nationalization of gold industry in order to protect

it against dormant economic crisis and to increase the government position

over its production. And it is not the first time gold mines are being

nationalized in Venesuela the same pattern occurred in 1965 and again in

1977. Three years earlier, in 2008, the same Chavez started negotiations

with Spanish banking multinational Grupo Santander to nationalize Banco

of Venezuela. He explained that by claiming that Bolivars in the bank

belong to 'the Venezuelan people and also the Venezuelan government'. In

2010, there was a debate in South Africa whether to nationalize the mines.

Julius Malema was for its nationalization and he tried to strenghten his

position by refering to 1955 Freedom Charter which states that ' The

wealth of the country shall be shared among all who live in it!'.

Conclusion

Athough Marxism era has ended, Marx ideas are still in action. It educates

and gives inspiration to new generations and class fighters all over the

world and helps to understand certain laws which are based on this theory.

Moreover, influence of big corporations and bourgeoisie is still growing,

which reminds about ruling capitalists class in Marxism period. Besides,

governments aspiration to gain more and more power by nationalization

can also refer to Marx theory about power in the hands of ruling class. So,

it is obvious that Marxism as a theory is not irrelevant in todays world.

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References

Father John A. Hardson, S.J. Archives, Communism, 'The Influence of

Marxism in the United States Today' ;

Francis Fukuyama 'The End of History' ;

Alan Woods, Ted Grant 'The Relevance of Marxism Today' ;

Phil Mitchinson 'The Living Ideas of Karl Marx' ;

Gary Browning, Abigail Halcli, Frank Webster'Understanding

Contemporary Society. Theories of the Present' ;

http://polsci101.wordpress.com/2009/12/15/karl-marx-today/ ;

http://www.marxist.com/science-old/alienationandthefuture.html#Marx

and Alienation ;

http://www.earlhamsociologypages.co.uk/Marxism%20and

%20Contemporary%20Society.html ;

http://www.marxist.com/nationalisation-banco-de-venezuela.htm

ANC YL Discussion DocumentFebruary 2010

TOWARDS THE TRANSFER OF MINERAL WEALTH TO THE

OWNERSHIP OF THE PEOPLE AS A WHOLE: a perspective on

nationalisation of Mines.

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