Marxism
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August Ferdinand Bebel (1840–1913) was a key figure in German socialism and co-founder of the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD). A committed Marxist, he advanced democratic socialism, advocating for gender equality in “Woman and Socialism.” Despite persecution, Bebel’s legacy endures as a catalyst for labor rights and social welfare initiatives.
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Marx’s theory of alienation, addressing workers’ estrangement under capitalism, remains relevant today. Contemporary theorists like Harvey, Fraser, and Žižek extend this concept to digital labor and ecological crises, emphasizing how modern capitalism deepens alienation through technological control and environmental degradation. Structural changes are essential for overcoming these pervasive estrangements.
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The essay explores the evolving role of money in a future socialist society, building on Marxist theory. It argues that money, as a medium of exploitation under capitalism, would eventually wither away or transform in socialism, leading to direct social production and distribution. Initial transitional phases may involve labor vouchers, but these too would vanish…
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Paul O’Flynn’s Them and Us in Literature examines how literature navigates identity, power, and otherness, utilizing diverse texts. Its interdisciplinary approach combines historical, sociological, and philosophical insights. O’Flynn critiques portrayals of “the other” while encouraging critical engagement, making it a vital resource for understanding literature’s impact on societal perceptions of inclusion and exclusion.
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Herbert Marcuse, a German-American philosopher linked to the Frankfurt School, critiqued capitalist societies using Marxist and psychoanalytic theories. Influenced by Heidegger, he fled Nazism and gained fame in the 1960s with One-Dimensional Man, advocating for radical change. Marcuse’s work focused on ideological control, culture, and liberation until his death in 1979.
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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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Terry Eagleton, born in 1943, is a leading British literary theorist recognized for his Marxist interpretations of literature. His academic career spans prestigious institutions, with works that blend accessibility and wit. Defending Marxist critique against postmodernism, Eagleton examines ideology and culture through extensive publications, remaining a vital contemporary intellectual figure.
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Richard D. Wolff, born in 1942, is a leading American economist known for his Marxist perspectives on economic inequality and capitalism critiques. An advocate for worker cooperatives and founder of Democracy at Work, he teaches at The New School and hosts Economic Update, addressing economic topics through a progressive lens. His influential writings emphasize democracy…
Letters from Tomis 