Marxism

International Political Economy

A branch in IR that examines the relations between political and economic systems of the world.

Capitalism

the global system under which goods and services are generated and distributed on the abscess of market relations

Marxism

a social, economic, and political philosophy that analyzes the impact of the ruling class on the laborers leading to uneven distribution of wealth and privileges in the society

Capitalism

what is the primary guiding concept of Marxism

Bourgeoisie and Proletariat

the two socio-economic classes for marxism

Bourgeoisie

controls the means of production, the systems by which goods are produced and distributed; involves everything from mines to factories that make finished products to the stores where it is sold. (less in number)

Proletariat

works for the bourgeoisie; exchanges their labor for a fixed wage, representing a small fraction of the total value of their work. (more in number, less resources)

the Communist Manifesto (1848)

a brief pamphlet outlining their critique of the economic and political system of Europe (a time of revolutionary change), and is recognized as a strong intellectual critique of capitalism

Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels

authors of the Communist Manifesto

Nationalism

the language used by states and/or the language used to inspire the proletariat to go against the bourgeoisie

The World System Theory by Immanuel Wallerstein

analyzes the connection between the rich “core” and the “poor” periphery of the world economy

Core States

Home of the world’s wealthiest bourgeoisies

“Bourgeoisie states”

(examples are states in Europe)

Semi-Peripheral States

Situated between these extremes in a transitional zone.

Some states have successfully transitioned into the core of the world capitalist system

Brought their bourgeoisies to the top ranks if the global economic elite and made their proletariats’ life more bearable. (examples are states in Asia)

Peripheral States

Its bourgeoisies are comparatively poor and their proletariats are much poorer, making them more unstable at the core of the world capitalist system than the more “prosperous states” (examples are countries in Africa)

after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991

When did Marxism only become a dominant force in the Western International Relations?

World War I

described as an expression of competition over access to colonial resources and markets between the bourgeois classes

to overcome the periphery states

goal of the proletariats

Economics

what is the determining social and political outcomes?

focus on struggle for power

Similarity of Realism and Marxism

consideration on non-state actors

similarity between marxism and liberalism

Realism is unhistorical

marxism argues that conflict between states varies substantially across history

to maintain their status to control the proletariats

Goal of bourgeoisie states

Historical Materialism

a belief in history and that history and present time is dictated by economy (economic factors play a great role on what happens now and in the future.