A brief summary on marxism

Marxism is a socio-economic ideology developed by Karl Marx, a German philosopher who believed that history is determined by struggle between social classes. According to Marx, society is composed of the bourgeoisie (dominating class that owns the tools of production) and the proletariat (working class). He believed that capitalism survived on this dichotomy and that the bourgeoisie exploited the labor of the proletariat. Marx envisioned the future where class divisions would end in a communist revolution and be replaced by a classless society.

Marx also did not see war as a matter of state affairs but a result of conflict between classes. War was to Marx an indication of the disease of the capitalist system, and he believed in neutrality. Marx extended his research from economics to culture in asserting that art and literature are shaped by economic and historical forces. Even seemingly unrelated cultural works, like poetry, are shaped by the economic conditions of their time. Culture, according to him, has its origins rooted firmly within the economy, either clearly or latently.

To spread his ideas, Marx co-wrote The Communist Manifesto with Friedrich Engels, the core ideas of Marxism. Although influential, Marxism never fueled the global revolution Marx hoped for. He believed that as people grew more dissatisfied with their governments, they would revolt and demand equality, but this has not yet occurred and likely never will. Although Marxism has not succeeded as a political movement in many ways, its critique of capitalism—especially wealth disparity and exploitation—is still relevant.

In today’s world, where economic globalization and corporate power dominate, Marxist critiques have found renewed relevance. Debates surrounding labor rights, wage stagnation, wealth inequality, and the concentration of power in multinational corporations often echo Marxist concerns. In countries facing economic precarity and political unrest, some movements even draw explicitly on Marxist language and analysis. Although these movements may not seek a communist revolution, they do reflect a growing awareness of systemic inequality—one of the central themes of Marx’s work.

Marxist theory is still felt in current debate in academic circles, most especially in literature, sociology, and political science. The idea that economics impacts culture has provided academics with the means to understand how power and inequality work in everyday life. Though Marx's revolutionary objectives were never realized, his critique still stands as a powerful model to use in criticizing structures of domination and imagining more equitable alternatives.