Karl Marx and Political/Economic Systems

KARL MARX AND POLITICAL/ECONOMIC SYSTEMS

• KARL MARX (1818-1883)

  • German philosopher, economist, sociologist, and political theorist.
  • Primary author of "The Communist Manifesto" (1848) and "Das Kapital" (1867-1883).
  • Critic of Capitalism; advocate for worker's rights.
  • Argued that Capitalism benefits only a segment of society, leading to class conflict.
  • Vision of a future utopia: working class control over political/economic systems, equitable wealth distribution.
  • Expelled from multiple countries; spent most of his later life in London and New York.
  • Influenced Communist Revolutions in Russia (1917) and China (1927-1949).

• FRIEDRICH ENGELS (1820-1895)

  • German philosopher, economist, and political theorist.
  • Co-author of the "Communist Manifesto"; edited and published later volumes of "Das Kapital".
  • Successful businessman; financially supported Marx.

• CAPITALISM

  • Economic/political system: industry and trade controlled by private owners with minimal government regulation.
  • Characteristics include:
  • Wage labor
  • Laws of supply and demand
  • Private property and strong property rights
  • Stock market for business investment.

• MARXISM

  • Set of theories by Marx, critical of Capitalism and advocating for workers' rights.
  • Key concepts include:
  • Two classes: Bourgeoisie (owners) and Proletariat (workers).
  • Workers lack power and become alienated, leading to class conflict.
  • Owners suppress wages to maximize profits, leading to exploitation.
  • Bourgeoisie controls government and media to maintain power.
  • Inequalities lead to a Proletariat revolution to abolish Capitalism.
  • Utopian post-revolution society includes:
    • No private property, no inherited wealth.
    • Steep income tax, centralized government control over key sectors.
    • Emphasis on free public education and living wages.

• SOCIALISM

  • Economic and political system derived from Marxism, transitional phase to Communism.
  • Major industries owned by workers; government regulates business and promotes equality.
  • Individual property ownership allowed.

• COMMUNISM

  • Political and economic system where the government controls all industries, aimed at creating a classless society.
  • No private ownership; all property held collectively.
  • Government overseen by a Communist Party.
  • Wealth distributed according to need.

MODERN IMPERIALISM (1750-1900)

• IMPERIALISM

  • Policy of extending a country's power via diplomacy or military force, also known as "Empire Building".
  • Goals include:
  • Economic growth
  • Military supremacy
  • Political power
  • National pride.

• ECONOMIC GOALS OF IMPERIALISM

  • Discover and control new markets for raw materials.
  • Sell finished goods from Europe to international colonies.

• BRITISH EMPIRE

  • Largest empire (1750-1900); over 50 territories, 25% of usable land, 400 million people.
  • Started to decline post-1867 with Canada, accelerating post-WW2.
  • Major territories included Canada, Australia, India, and South Africa.

• BRITISH EAST INDIA COMPANY (BEIC)

  • Founded in 1600 with rights to trade in India/East Asia.
  • Evolved to control large parts of India, leading to British Raj.

• OPIUM WARS (1839-1842)

  • Conflict over opium trade with China; resulted in British control of Hong Kong.

• SEPOY REBELLION (1857)

  • Indian soldiers (Sepoys) rebel due to pay inequality and cultural insensitivity.
  • Resulted in British Parliament taking direct control of India (British Raj).

• SOCIAL DARWINISM

  • Theory asserting racial superiority based on "survival of the fittest"; used to justify imperialism.

• NATIONALISM

  • Ideology promoting loyalty to one's nation, unifying small groups into larger nations.
  • Played roles in both unifying (Italy, Germany) and justifying imperialism (Scramble for Africa).

• SCRAMBLE FOR AFRICA

  • Competitive land acquisition by European nations between 1850 and 1900.
  • Berlin Conference (1884) established colonial boundaries without African consultation.

• SUEZ CANAL

  • Key trade route opening in 1869; significant for Europe-Asia trade.

U.S. IMPERIALISM (1800's)

• U.S. Expansion Examples:

  • Louisiana Purchase (1803) from France
  • Florida Purchase (1819) from Spain
  • Territory takeover from Native Americans through wars/treaties
  • Texas annexation and Mexican-American War (1846-1848)
  • Purchase of Alaska (1867)
  • Spanish-American War (1898) leads to Guam, Puerto Rico, Philippines.
  • Annexation of Hawaii (1898).

• MONROE DOCTRINE (1823)

  • Stated that the Western Hemisphere was closed to European colonization; justified U.S. foreign policy.

• MANIFEST DESTINY

  • Belief in divine right for U.S. westward expansion; justified actions against Native Americans.

• SELF-DETERMINATION THEORY

  • Political principle advocating for the right of groups to choose their governance, opposing imperialism.

COMPARISON OF SOCIETAL SYSTEMS

• GENERAL PHILOSOPHY:

  • Capitalism: Free markets drive competition; maximize profits.
  • Socialism: Wealth redistribution for social support; aim for high quality of life.
  • Communism: Government control for equality; no private property.

• OWNERSHIP OF PROPERTY:

  • Capitalism: Private ownership encouraged.
  • Socialism: Government owns essential services; private property allowed.
  • Communism: No private ownership; collective property.

• SOCIAL CLASSES:

  • Capitalism: Many classes based on skills.
  • Socialism: Minimized class distinctions through redistribution.
  • Communism: Aiming for a classless society.

• GOVERNMENT ROLE:

  • Capitalism: Limited government role as market "referee".
  • Socialism: Active government shaping social policy.
  • Communism: Total government control over economy.

• TAXATION POLICY:

  • Capitalism: Limited, incentivizing profit motive.
  • Socialism: High taxes for social services.
  • Communism: Very high taxes, less focus on fiscal measures due to government control.

• LABOR:

  • Capitalism: Market-determined wages.
  • Socialism: Government-managed wages; living wage guaranteed.
  • Communism: Wages managed by government, ideally eliminating unemployment.

• PRICES:

  • Capitalism: Market-determined.
  • Socialism: Mixed control; government prices for key goods.
  • Communism: Government-set prices.

• HEALTHCARE:

  • Capitalism: Individual choice, often leading to inequities.
  • Socialism: Tax-funded, free access.
  • Communism: Managed by government, limited access.

• EDUCATION:

  • Capitalism: Skill-oriented, competitive.
  • Socialism: Equal access regardless of socioeconomic status.
  • Communism: State-controlled, promoting communist ideals.