MARXIST THEORY

Living in a capitalist society, however, the individual is not truly free. He is an alienated being; he is not at home in his
world. The idea of alienation, which Marx takes from Hegel and Ludwig Feuerbach, plays a fundamental role in the
whole of his written work, starting with the writings of his youth and continuing through Das Kapital. In the Economic
and Philosophic Manuscripts the alienation of labour is seen to spring from the fact that the more the worker produces
the less he has to consume, and the more values he creates the more he devalues himself, because his product and
his labour are estranged from him. The life of the worker depends on things that he has created but that are not his,
so that, instead of finding his rightful existence through his labour, he loses it in this world of things that are external
to him: no work, no pay. Under these conditions, labour denies the fullness of concrete humanity. “The generic being
(Gattungwesen) of man, nature as well as his intellectual faculties, is transformed into a being which is alien to him, into
a means of his individual existence.” Nature, his body, his spiritual essence become alien to him. “Man is made alien to
man.” When carried to its highest stage of development, private property becomes “the product of alienated labour…
the means by which labour alienates itself (and) the realization of this alienation.” It is also at the same time “the
tangible material expression of alienated human life.”

Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels were the founders of Marxist theory, which critiques capitalism and advocates
for a classless society through socialism and communism. Their key ideas are:

1. Historical Materialism

 History is driven by material (economic) conditions, not ideas or individuals.

 Societies progress through stages: primitive communism → slavery → feudalism → capitalism →
socialism → communism.

2. Class Struggle

 Society is divided into bourgeoisie (capitalist class) and proletariat (working class).
 The bourgeoisie exploit workers by paying them less than the value of their labor.

3. Alienation-WORK SHOULD MAKE US FEEL FULFILLED. WORKERS NEED TO SEE

THEMSELVES IN THE OBJECT TRHEY CREATED. EXAMPLE, CHAIR VERY
ELEGANT, STRONG, IT EXPRESSES WHATS INSIDE US. THE FEELING OF
DISCONNECTION OF WHAT YOU REALLY ARE AND YOUR DAILY CONTRIBUTE
TO EXISTENCE.

 Under capitalism, workers are alienated from:

o The products they create (they don’t own them).
o The process of work (they perform repetitive tasks).
o Their fellow workers (competition replaces cooperation).
o Their own potential (they are reduced to mere laborers).

4. Surplus Value & Exploitation

 Capitalists profit by taking the surplus value created by workers.

 This leads to increased inequality and economic crises.

5. Revolution & Dictatorship of the Proletariat

  Workers must overthrow capitalism through revolution.
 A temporary dictatorship of the proletariat will suppress the bourgeoisie.
 This leads to socialism, eventually evolving into communism (a classless, stateless society).

6. Communism

 A society with no private property, no exploitation, and no social classes.

 “From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs.”

Their ideas were outlined in works like The Communist Manifesto (1848) and Das Kapital (1867), shaping
socialist movements worldwide.

Here’s a brief explanation of each stage in Marx’s theory of historical materialism:

1. Primitive Communism
o Early human societies (hunter-gatherers).
o No private property or social classes—everything is shared communally.
o Ends with the rise of private property and organized agriculture.
2. Slavery
o Emergence of private property leads to slavery-based societies (e.g., Ancient Rome, Egypt).
o A ruling class (slave owners) exploits a laboring class (slaves).
o Ends with internal revolts and economic inefficiencies.
3. Feudalism
o Landowners (lords) control peasants (serfs) who work the land.
o Wealth is tied to land, and power is inherited.
o Declines with the rise of trade, cities, and an emerging capitalist class (bourgeoisie).
4. Capitalism
o Industrial revolution creates a new economic system based on wage labor.
o The bourgeoisie (capitalist class) owns the means of production and exploits the proletariat
(working class).
o Leads to inequality, crises, and class struggle, setting the stage for socialism.
5. Socialism
o The working class overthrows capitalism through revolution.
o The means of production are collectively owned, reducing exploitation.
o A transitional phase where the state redistributes wealth and manages resources.
6. Communism
o A classless, stateless society with no private property.
o Wealth is shared based on need: “From each according to his ability, to each according to his
needs.”
o True equality and cooperation replace competition and exploitation.

In Marxist theory, commodity fetishism refers to the perception of social relations in a capitalist
system being obscured by the relationships between commodities, where the value of goods is seen
as inherent to the objects themselves rather than the labor that produced them. EXAMPLE, PEOPLE
MARRY FOR MONEY, NOT LOVE.
Socialism According to Karl Marx

Socialism is the transitional stage between capitalism and communism in Marx’s theory. It is a worker-
controlled society where the means of production (factories, land, resources) are collectively owned, and
wealth is redistributed to reduce inequality.

Key Features of Socialism in Marxist Theory

1. Abolition of Private Property

o The means of production are controlled by the state or the working class instead of private
individuals.
o Wealth is redistributed to eliminate exploitation.
2. The Dictatorship of the Proletariat
o A temporary government run by the working class to dismantle capitalist structures.
o Ensures that former capitalists do not regain power.
3. Elimination of Class Divisions
o No more bourgeoisie (capitalist class) exploiting the proletariat (workers).
o Everyone contributes based on their ability and receives based on their work.
4. Planned Economy
o Production is based on human needs, not profit.
o No economic crises caused by overproduction or competition.
5. Higher Wages & Better Living Conditions
o Workers receive the full value of their labor instead of just wages.
o Education, healthcare, and housing are free or accessible to all.

How Does Socialism Lead to Communism?

 As inequality disappears, the state becomes unnecessary.

 Society evolves into communism, a classless, stateless world of true equality.

Marx saw socialism as a necessary step to destroy capitalism and build a fairer society before reaching
full communism.

Yes, Karl Marx wanted communism, but not as an immediate goal—rather, as the final stage of human
society after capitalism and socialism.

Why Did Marx Want Communism?

Marx saw capitalism as exploitative and unstable, believing that it would eventually collapse due to class
struggle. He argued that:

 The bourgeoisie (capitalist class) exploits the proletariat (working class).

 Capitalism leads to inequality, crises, and alienation.
 Workers would eventually rise up in a revolution.

The Path to Communism

Marx believed in a three-step transformation:

1. Capitalism → Exploitation and class struggle.

2. Socialism → Workers control the state and economy (temporary "dictatorship of the proletariat").
 3. Communism → A classless, stateless society where wealth is shared and exploitation ends.

Key Features of Communism (Marx's Ideal Society)

✔ No private property → The means of production belong to everyone.

✔ No social classes → No rich or poor, just people contributing based on ability.
✔ No state oppression → The government disappears because there’s no need for control.
✔ “From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs.”

Did Marx Provide a Blueprint for Communism?

No. Marx didn’t describe communism in detail because he saw it as a historical process, not a fixed system. He
believed that workers would decide how to build it once they gained power.

Would you like to explore how different countries tried (and failed) to implement communism?

Can the Philippines Thrive Under Communism or Would It Lead to Stagnation?

The Philippines adopting communism would face significant challenges, and based on historical and economic
factors, it would likely lead to stagnation rather than prosperity. Here’s why:

1. Economic Dependence on Global Trade

 The Philippines relies heavily on foreign investments, remittances, and trade.

 A communist system would mean state-controlled industries, leading to less foreign investment and
trade restrictions, which could harm the economy.

2. Bureaucratic Inefficiency & Corruption

 Government institutions already struggle with corruption and inefficiency under capitalism.
 A centrally planned economy could worsen mismanagement and create more red tape.

3. Cultural and Social Structure

 The Philippines values family businesses, private ownership, and entrepreneurship, which conflict
with communist principles.
 Many Filipinos work overseas, and remittances drive the economy—something a communist system
would likely restrict or abolish.

4. Risk of Authoritarian Rule

 Communist states often require a strong central government to enforce policies, which could lead to
dictatorship.
 Given the country’s history with martial law, this could result in political oppression rather than
equality.

5. Alternative Solutions Exist

 The Philippines could address poverty and inequality through stronger social programs, better
governance, and regulated capitalism, rather than full communism.
  A mixed economy (like Sweden or Norway) might be a better path.

Conclusion: Likely to Lead to Stagnation

While communism aims for equality, the Philippines’ economic dependence, cultural values, and
governance issues suggest it would struggle under such a system. Instead of communism, reforms in
governance, social welfare, and economic policies would be a more practical way to achieve progress.

Would you like a comparison with other countries that have tried communism?

Friedrich Engels (1820–1895) was a German philosopher, social scientist, and journalist, best known for his
close collaboration with Karl Marx in developing the foundations of modern communism. Born in Barmen,
Prussia (now Wuppertal, Germany), Engels was the son of a wealthy textile manufacturer.
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Major Contributions:

1. Co-Authorship of The Communist Manifesto (1848): Engels co-wrote this pivotal political document
with Marx, outlining the principles of communism and the call for proletarian revolution.
2. The Condition of the Working Class in England (1845): In this work, Engels examined the living
conditions of industrial workers, highlighting the social and economic disparities of the time.
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3. Support and Collaboration with Marx: Engels provided financial assistance to Marx, enabling him to
continue his work, and collaborated on several other writings, including "The Holy Family" and "The
German Ideology." citeturn0search1
4. Editing and Publishing Das Kapital: After Marx's death, Engels edited and published the second and
third volumes of "Das Kapital," ensuring the continuation of Marx's critical analysis of political
economy. citeturn0search0
5. Dialectics of Nature: Engels explored the application of dialectical reasoning to natural sciences,
attempting to show that nature itself is dialectical. citeturn0search1
6. The Origin of the Family, Private Property and the State (1884): In this work, Engels analyzed the
links between family structures, property relations, and the state, arguing that the monogamous nuclear
family emerged to control property and perpetuate class structures. citeturn0search1 

Engels's contributions were instrumental in shaping Marxist theory and advancing the socialist movement in the
19th century.