Why does Marxism refuse to die?

Marxism is not a popular political ideology in Britain but why does it refuse to die? What exactly is so attractive about it that keeps its flame burning?

Reply 1

hello_shawn

19

He was right about capitalism, according to his supporters :wink:

Reply 2

Good bloke

19

The world is full of idealistic and naive young people who have not yet had time to learn better. And older idiots who are incapable of learning better.

Reply 3

Just my opinion

20

Because apparently 100 million bodies aren't enough.🤔

Reply 4

DSilva

12

Original post by Arran90

Marxism is not a popular political ideology in Britain but why does it refuse to die? What exactly is so attractive about it that keeps its flame burning?

The fact that people like you keep going on about it? I swear the only people who drone on about Marxism these days are people paranoid that there's this big conspiracy against them.

Reply 5

Davij038

13

Because his ideas are actually where society is going under the present neoliberal agenda* as he understood it:

Tthe erosion of borders, traditional family units, religion: no more bigotry- we will all be materialistic individuals pursuing our own interests with an apparently benevolent government paying the bill as almost everything is done by automation now.

Basically liberal utopia. You can pump yourself full of now legal drugs and the state will pay to get you detoxed. You can abandon your kids and the state will look after them. You can do whatever you please so long as it does not directly harm anyone else (aside from abortion obviously which you can get whenever you want) :, As others have noted its strikingly Similar to Ian Banks’s ‘’Culture’ faction.

Reply 6

3p0rock

7

Original post by Arran90

Marxism is not a popular political ideology in Britain but why does it refuse to die? What exactly is so attractive about it that keeps its flame burning?

Because Karl Marx and his disciples got a lot right when formulating an ideology that analysed class inequalities in late and early 19th and 20th century Europe respectively. Their views on the pernicious nature of unregulated capitalism proved to be true, with the exploitation of millions of workers and for all the bounties to befall the minority, the bourgeoisie. Marxism played an integral role in the formulation of modern Europe, with the rise of the Soviet Union in the October Revolution of 1917. In a world where Lords and Ladies, Kings and Queens were the de facto rulers, where their very thoughts were essentially law, a bunch of Russian intellectuals, seizing the anomie and disillusion of millions of Russian Serfs, proved that the formation of a Communist nirvana-at least the revolution part- was possible.
Although Marx's ideas did not stand the test of time and capitalism very convincingly, more so now than ever, has proved the best human economic model to provide prosperity and actualisation for so many human beings in such a short timeframe. But this development has come at the exploitation, although arguably not as extreme, of other people. Issues regarding class inequalities still exist in nations as developed as the UK or USA, therefore the many millions disenfranchised by the global capitalist order draw hope in many things; religion, family, or at times political ideology such as that of Marx.
Marx's ideas to a large extent are not applicable to 21st Century life, and his solutions proved to be the basis of totalitarian and authoritarian regimes throughout the 20th Century. But the utopian ideals outlined by Marx in the Communist Manifesto seem not to fail in being alluring to the millions disillusioned and disenfranchised by the Capitalism we see today. It's quite understandable that it never seems to die away.

Reply 7

ChaoticButterfly

20

Because Marx wrote about capitalism. Captialism is still here, in fact capitalism was largely confined to the European powers when Marx was writing about it. Capital is global now so Marxism is more relevent than ever. As long as Capitialism exists, socialism's shadow will follow it.

Not to mention we are still living with the consequences of the 2008 crash. This is not the 90s when capitalism looked to be providing the goods.

He was also a good writer... His prose and insights are interesting and are written in a way that is much more fun to read than most ecademic works. He invokes vampires, wearwolves and other gothic imagery in his work. Compare that to the often turgid and hard to decipher prose of a lot of other philosophers.

(edited 5 years ago)

Reply 8

the bear

20

it is like leprosy... the germs can survive in the environment until a suitable opportunity arises for reviving in the human population.

Reply 9

ChaoticButterfly

20

Also almost eveyone to some degree practises the materialist conception of history.

Reply 10

Pinkisk

18

Original post by DSilva

The fact that people like you keep going on about it? I swear the only people who drone on about Marxism these days are people paranoid that there's this big conspiracy against them.

Marxism is the main ideology behind left-wing and liberal politics. Communism is entirely based on Marxism. Feminism is entirely based Marxism. Socialism is entirely based on Marxism. All these aformentioned ideologies are more so alive today than they were back in the mid 1800s when Marxism was birthed. They keep Marxism alive.

Marxism is far from dying. It is highly institutionalised, very influential and powerful. It is the go to ideology for people who want things in life that they do no deserve.

Reply 11

DSilva

12

Original post by Pinkisk

Marxism is the main ideology behind left-wing and liberal politics. Communism is entirely based on Marxism. Feminism is entirely based Marxism. Socialism is entirely based on Marxism. All these aformentioned ideologies are more so alive today than they were back in the mid 1800s when Marxism was birthed. They keep Marxism alive.

Marxism is far from dying. It is highly institutionalised, very influential and powerful. It is the go to ideology for people who want things in life that they do no deserve.

It's so largely irrelevant. Most people who are lefty want more money for public services and greater regulations in certain industries. Not some weird utopia.

I hardly ever hear anyone speak of Marx except people who go on about how they think it's taking over everything.

Reply 12

Anti-Vaxx

2

Jewish-zionist domination of international banking and military security. In a nutshell.

Reply 13

McTosh

10

You have to understand Marxism can only work under a totalitarian regime, but totalitarian regimes always collapse in violence because human nature means we want freedom and liberty. However naive people think you can have Marxism without authoritarianism, that if you politely ask hard working people to give up all their money and land they will. Which obviously they won't, as why should they? And so the left commits genocide starts a war and society collapses. 50 years later they forget the crimes they committed and try doing it all over again expecting different results. Nope, humans still naturally prefer liberty and freedom.

Original post by McTosh

That image actually got me laughing. 😂😂

Reply 15

ChaoticButterfly

20

Original post by McTosh

You have to understand Marxism can only work under a totalitarian regime, but totalitarian regimes always collapse in violence because human nature means we want freedom and liberty. However naive people think you can have Marxism without authoritarianism, that if you politely ask hard working people to give up all their money and land they will. Which obviously they won't, as why should they? And so the left commits genocide starts a war and society collapses. 50 years later they forget the crimes they committed and try doing it all over again expecting different results. Nope, humans still naturally prefer liberty and freedom.

Western Europe had Marxism and it gaves us social democracy and the welfare state. It didn't result in communism but it didn't result in anything more authoratarian than liberal democracy, and when western european states did decend into authoratarianism marxists always apposed it.

Reply 16

McTosh

10

Original post by ChaoticButterfly

Western Europe had Marxism and it gaves us social democracy and the welfare state. It didn't result in communism but it didn't result in anything more authoratarian than liberal democracy, and when western european states did decend into authoratarianism marxists always apposed it.

W-what? I'm not sure what history books you've been reading but.. you either misread them or they're a misprint.

Reply 17

ChaoticButterfly

20

Original post by McTosh

W-what? I'm not sure what history books you've been reading but.. you either misread them or they're a misprint.

Stuff like this

https://www.amazon.co.uk/One-Hundred-Years-Socialism-Twentieth/dp/1848852975

Where do you think Social Democracy came from? Pre the Russian Revolution Social Democracy encompassed radicle insrectionary figures such as Lenin and Rosa Luxembourgh along with more conservative figures like Kautsky and Bernstein. Kautsky never advocated for or did anything like what the Bolsheviks did, he supported encoporating the working class into democratic politics and apposed what Lenin did in Russia. After the death of engels Kautsky was considered the most authorative expert on Marxism.

You can feel the effects of 19th and 20th century labour movements today in things such as the welfare state. Marxism played a prominant role in that happening and the same parties still exist in many countries. The german SPD may no longer resemble the party of Marxists it once was, but that is still its history.

Reply 18

McTosh

10

We had Democracy centuries before Marx was born, and he wasn't western European.

Seriously you're confused.

Reply 19

NetNeutrality

17

Original post by ChaoticButterfly

Stuff like this

https://www.amazon.co.uk/One-Hundred-Years-Socialism-Twentieth/dp/1848852975

Where do you think Social Democracy came from? Pre the Russian Revolution Social Democracy encompassed radicle insrectionary figures such as Lenin and Rosa Luxembourgh along with more conservative figures like Kautsky and Bernstein. Kautsky never advocated for or did anything like what the Bolsheviks did, he supported encoporating the working class into democratic politics and apposed what Lenin did in Russia. After the death of engels Kautsky was considered the most authorative expert on Marxism.

You can feel the effects of 19th and 20th century labour movements today in things such as the welfare state. Marxism played a prominant role in that happening and the same parties still exist in many countries. The german SPD may no longer resemble the party of Marxists it once was, but that is still its history.

ayyy fellow commie

Why does Marxism refuse to die?

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