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Marxism

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May 1, 2024 4 minute read

Marxism is a social, political, and economic theory originally developed by Karl Marx, with important contributions by Friedrich Engels, that analyzes class relations and societal conflict using a materialist interpretation of historical development. It is based on the premise that class struggle is the driving force of history and that capitalism, the dominant economic system in the modern world, will ultimately be replaced by a socialist society.

Marxism as a Framework for Understanding Society

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Reading list

We've selected 12 books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Marxism.
Provides a comprehensive overview of Marxist thought, from its origins to its contemporary manifestations. Tucker leading expert on Marxism, and his book is widely regarded as one of the best introductions to the subject.
This unfinished work by Marx valuable companion to Capital. In Theories of Surplus Value, Marx provides a more detailed analysis of the various theories of surplus value that have been proposed by economists.
This classic work of Marxist philosophy examines the relationship between history and society. Lukács argues that history is not simply a collection of random events, but is instead a process that is driven by the underlying economic forces of society.
This classic work of anti-Marxist thought argues that historical materialism form of historicism, which is the belief that history is governed by laws that can be discovered and used to predict the future. Popper argues that historicism flawed philosophy that cannot be used to make reliable predictions about the future.
Examines the relationship between Marxism and feminism. Vogel argues that Marxism provides a powerful framework for understanding the oppression of women, and that feminist insights can be used to enrich Marxist theory.
Explores the relationship between Marxism and ecology. Foster argues that Marxism provides a powerful framework for understanding the ecological crisis, and that ecological insights can be used to enrich Marxist theory.
Explores the relationship between Marxism and the future of humanity. Fukuyama argues that Marxism failed ideology, and that the future of humanity lies in the development of liberal democracy.
Explores the relationship between Marxism and religion. Eagleton argues that Marxism is not a secular ideology, but is instead a form of religious humanism.
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