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The text explores Marx’s theory of surplus value, asserting that profit under capitalism originates solely from labor. Marx critiques classical economics for failing to explain profit, emphasizing that surplus arises in production rather than circulation. By highlighting the exploitation of labor, he reveals how capital accumulates wealth through unpaid worker contributions.
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The evolution of psychotherapy began with Freud’s psychoanalysis, emphasizing the unconscious mind and inner conflicts. This tradition expanded through Jung’s collective unconscious and Lacan’s linguistic approach. Modern therapies, like CBT and humanistic methods, prioritize empirical evidence and structured techniques, focusing on present issues, symptom relief, and client empowerment.
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Ernesto “Che” Guevara (1928-1967) was an Argentine Marxist revolutionary and key figure in the Cuban Revolution. Influenced by social injustices during his travels, he joined Fidel Castro’s movement to overthrow Batista. Guevara sought global revolutions but was captured and executed in Bolivia. He is a polarizing icon of rebellion.
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The concept of the “Body Without Organs” (BwO), developed by Deleuze and Guattari, challenges traditional psychoanalysis and metaphysical thought. It represents a body stripped of structured organization, embodying unregulated potential. The BwO visualizes desire as a creative force, advocating freedom from imposed roles, encouraging new connections and identities beyond rigid frameworks.
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In “China: From Permanent Revolution to Counter-Revolution,” John Peter Roberts examines China’s historical transformation under the Communist Party, emphasizing ideological and political shifts from Mao to Deng Xiaoping. His critique reveals the human costs and contradictions of China’s market economy while encouraging critical debate on socialism and capitalism’s future.
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Rosa Luxemburg emphasized the “subjective factor” in Marxist theory, focusing on the working class’s consciousness and initiative as vital for revolutionary change. She opposed fatalistic views of history, arguing that active engagement and preparation of class consciousness are essential. The 1905 Russian Revolution demonstrated the necessity of this proactive approach for meaningful social transformation.
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Bertolt Brecht, born in 1898, became a leading playwright known for his epic theatre and political critique. His major works include The Threepenny Opera and Mother Courage. After fleeing Nazi Germany, he founded the Berliner Ensemble in East Germany. Brecht’s innovative techniques profoundly impacted modern theatre and continue to influence artists today.
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The concept of “under-consumption” highlights the paradox of poverty amidst abundance in capitalism, where overproduction leads to unsold goods while many lack means to purchase essentials. This systemic issue, rooted in class exploitation and wage suppression, consistently results in economic crises, revealing flaws in capitalist distribution, not consumer behavior.
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Marxist theorists Lenin, Gramsci, and Luxemburg offered varied analyses of the state’s role in class societies. Lenin emphasized coercion and the necessity of a proletarian state, Gramsci focused on hegemony and ideological consent, while Luxemburg insisted on mass democracy. Despite differences, all agreed on revolution’s necessity to transcend class oppression.
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Frantz Fanon, born in 1925 in Martinique, was a significant figure influenced by French colonialism and his experiences as a psychiatrist during the Algerian War. His major works, including “Black Skin, White Masks” and “The Wretched of the Earth,” explored themes of racism, decolonization, and revolutionary thought, inspiring global anti-colonial movements. Fanon died in 1961.
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Letters from Tomis 