Communism And Communism By Karl Marx

Superior Essays
In recent times, there is a growing concern of wealth inequality in America. This has really drawn criticism and challenge to capitalism as the model of socioeconomic structure. Debates surrounding this issue are often traditionally addressed through two models: communism and capitalism. Karl Marx, in his work, “The Communist Manifesto,” criticizes capitalism for it’s preaching of individualism and competition, which leads to the exploitation of the working class thus resulting in further antagonization between socioeconomic classes. Marx ends his criticism by offering up the complete abandonment of the capitalist system in favor of a communistic system in which socioeconomic autonomy is in the hands of the state. On the other hand, Andrew …show more content…
He frames this separation of the classes as a struggle and a constantly losing battle for one group or the other (mostly for the poor). He explicitly states, “society as a whole is more and more splitting into two great hostile camps, [….] Bourgeoisie and Proletariat” (Marx 338). Right away, Marx hopes to use this to build an argument that the current relations between the two classes is an illusion and that the proletariat are playing the zero-sum game, with the Bourgeoisie, that is capitalism. In direct contrast to this, Carnegie believes that, in the capitalist system, the relations between the two classes is more symbiotic in nature. As one group benefits from the labors of another, the other eventually shares in the same benefits through the philanthropy of the first group. This relationship would have, for both groups, continuous improvements and as Carnegie puts it, “What were the luxuries have become the necessaries of life” (Carnegie 365). In this way, He argues that even though there is a distinction between the rich and the poor, the lives of the poor are in no way facing the same difficulties or disadvantages of the …show more content…
Marx is convinced that the labor exploitation spurred by capitalism is beyond ethical salvation. So much so that he advocates for the complete restructuring of society through the abolition of private property, and redistribution of it into the sanction of the state, as outlined in his ten-point communist agenda. Thus, resulting in open access of public property for all. Unfortunately, a restructuring of this size is not unlike revolution, therefore cannot be achieved unless without the support of a marginalized population. Which leads to the safe assumption that this is why Marx attempts to draw together proletariat groups and the communists. At this point, Marx recognizes the radicality of movement to the status quo, which in turn is its most glaring weakness. This is where Carnegie’s argument shows a significant

Related Documents

  • Improved Essays

    Throughout all of Marx’ works on revolution and the proletariat the main idea is rising up. He is always consistent with the same purpose. There is no confusion to what his motives are. Another common idea is that society and the bourgeoisie would collapse without the proletariat. This idea is the main basis on which the effectiveness of a revolution is built.…

    • 1548 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    Although many valid points were made in The Communist Manifesto, a few fatal flaws exist in his ideology. The United States has tried communism, but it was not until this system’s failure that property rights and capitalism took hold. Although many valid points were made in Marx’s The Communist Manifesto, a few fatal flaws exist in his ideology. The United States has tried Communism, and it was not until communism failed that property rights and capitalism took hold.…

    • 1741 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Furthermore, to showcase that the proletarians are capable of responding to the bourgeoisie class through occasional revolts, Marx suggests that the proletarians “form combinations (trade unions)” and these will serve as “permanent associations” to riot against the bourgeoisie class (Marx, 166). Therefore, since proletarians are oppressed by the bourgeoisie, the bourgeoisie state, and are enslaved by the machines, Marx suggests a revolution that will physically re-constitute society or result “in the common ruin of the contending classes” (Marx, 159,…

    • 724 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Marx believed that a violent overthrow of capitalism would lead to international socialism based on common ownership of land and capital. This would transform into an ideal state of communism, which is a worker-governed society based on the guiding concept “from each according to ability, and to each according to need” (Bolotta, Hawkes, Mahoney, Piper, 2002, pg. 58). This theory influenced many revolutions that would take place in the world. For example, the Russian Revolution in 1917, led by Lenin who said he has the philosophical heir to Marx (Schaff, 2009). Both Marx and Lenin are considered to be the two most important figures in the development of communism in the Soviet Union.…

    • 918 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    Unfortunately, their vision was unrealistic because what they wanted was a utopia, which is impractical in reality. Marx’s reasons for the failure of the ideas proposed by these groups, is that they are all missing important Communist…

    • 1362 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    He believes that communism would be the best system for achieving peace and prosperity among people. “The history of all hitherto existing society is the history of class struggles” (Marx 9). The existence of different classes is viewed negatively by Marx. He believes that different classes is the reason for tension in a society. Marx mentions that the discovery of America is a big reason for the separation of classes (Marx 9).…

    • 1596 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    Marxism The Crucible

    • 1524 Words
    • 7 Pages

    Imagine living in a world where no human oppresses another. Imagine living in a world where no one is poor and no one is rich. Imagine living in a world where the social class system is non-existent. Karl Marx, a 19th century philosopher, foresaw the image of this apparent communist utopia forming in every society; he expected the maltreated working classes to fight back against those who have immense, misused power. He believed that material possessions have a powerful enough influence on our lives to be considered the sole reason of historical change.…

    • 1524 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Superior Essays

    Dissent from Capitalism “What does this accusation amount to? The history of all past society is the history of class antagonisms, which took different forms in different epochs” (Blaisdell 140-141). Karl Marx made an accusation that capitalism will eventually come to an end.…

    • 1641 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Superior Essays

    Marx Vs America Essay

    • 1787 Words
    • 8 Pages

    Mimmi Roennlund Professor Brian Rajski Engl. 1, Section 1919 10/5/15 NLASNFa If we would take our cars and drive between the affluent city of Beverly Hills and the poverty-stricken parts of South Central, Los Angeles, we can easily notice the immense social equality gap that is present here in California. Approximately two years ago, I moved to the United States from Sweden, which is a country where the equality among people is extremely unbiased. For me it was a shock to witness the massive inequality gap in America because it was something I had never witnessed before to this extent. We can say that Sweden is more equal to a communist driven country while America is foremost a capitalistic driven country. People will always have different…

    • 1787 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Communism and collectivism are two types of government that dehumanize the human self and bring fear to many people. In a collective state, every person is born into an atmosphere where you are not an individual; you are part of a group. Properties are owned by the community or group and the well-being of the group takes priority over the individual 's well-being. Communism is a political movement which forces individuals to work towards the benefits of the state. The benefits of the group are driven by politics and properties and businesses are owned by the state instead of the individuals.…

    • 1561 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    Marxism In Fight Club

    • 1340 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Capitalism, according to Marx, is a mode of production based on private ownership of the means of production. It is a system of social relations in which labour-power is commodified and the driving force of society is the accumulation of capital. Marx theorized that economic systems result in two social classes, one of which holds the power and uses it to oppress the other. In capitalism, this is the bourgeoisie, the capitalists, who own the means of production, and the proletariat who’s labour allows the system to function and is the source of the bourgeoisie’s power. As such, the social relations of production are antagonistic.…

    • 1340 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Part A: Boyer’s (1998) article argues that the Communist Manifesto by Karl Marx is only relevant within the historical context of the 1840s, and not in any other decade of the 19th century. Boyer (1998) then agues that the primary thesis of this argument is that Marx wrote this document during the “hungry” 1840s, which defines a unique period of economic collapse as a timeframe in which communism was an increasingly common idea in the development of European political ideologies (151). More so, the thesis of Boyer’s (1998) article seeks to defame the Communist Manifesto by showing its relationship to the severe economic events of the 1840s, as well as defining how this type of economic collapse was the only time in European history in which…

    • 1013 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    In 1848, Karl Marx and Fredrick Engels published ‘The Communist Manifesto’ that was aimed at presenting the arguments, goals, and platform of Communism. The publication was a commissioned work that was intended to articulate the objective and platform of the Communist League, an international political party founded in 1847 in London, England. The authors point out the benefits of communism and the need for its application in the future. Besides, the manifesto was a proposal reading stabilization of the class structure in the society without conflict. The authors argue that historical developments have been impacted by the class struggles, with the rich battling with the poor and the exploitation of one class by another.…

    • 842 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Marxism in The Hunger Games If there is any perfect representation of Marxism in film it is in The Hunger Games. For this case study, I will be focusing on the first movie of the trilogy. This paper will overview the way Marxism is shown in The Hunger Games using a few examples from the movie. In this paper, I argue that The Hunger Games’ plot line has Marxism theories extremely exposed and almost blatantly exposed. Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels developed Marxism in the early 1900s.…

    • 753 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The most fundamental and important of these conflicts is that between the Bourgeoisie (those who own and control the means of production in society) and the Proletariat (those who simply sell their labor power in the market place of Capitalism)”. (Theories, 2009) One of the reasons that the philosophy of Karl Marx and Marxism is so misunderstood is the connection that society makes to…

    • 958 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays