Karl Marx

Karl Marx

-German philosopher -condemned Utopian ideas called them unrealistic idealism -despised capitalism believed that it created prosperity for only a few and poverty for many.

Marxism Loses Appeal

-Marx predicted that workers would unite across national borders to wage class warfare but instead, nationalism won out over the working class loyalty. People felt stronger ties to their own country than to international communist movements. -By end of 20th cent : few nations remained with communist gov, while other governments included elements of free-market capitalism.

communism

-a system in which governments led by a small elite controlled all economic political life

Marxism

-gained popularity -leaders of reform groups adopted marxism -1860s : German socialists adapted Marx's beliefs to form social democracy -1800's : Russian socialists embraced Marxism, Russian Rev. of 1917 set up a communist-inspired government. 1900's : revolutionaries around the world adopted the idea to their situations and needs.

Scientific Socialism

-his theory, he claimed was based on scientific theory of history

Communist Manifesto

-pamphlet that both Engels and Marx -published in 1848 -talked about the struggle between social classes that would lead to a classless society where all means of production would be owned by the community. -Marx theorized that economics was the driving force in history -argued that there was "the history of class struggles" between the "haves " and the "have nots". The "haves had always owned the means of prod. and therefore controlled society and all its wealth. In industrialized Europe, Marx said "the haves" were the bourgeoisie against that proletariat. -In the end, he predicted, the proletariat would be successful. Workers would take control of means of prod. and set up a classless, communist society. Such a society would mark the end of the struggled people had endured throughout history, because wealth and power would be equally shared.

socialism

-to end poverty + injustice offered a radical solution -people as a whole rather than private individuals would own and operate the means of prod.-farms, factories, railways, and other large businesses that produced and distributed goods. -grew out of the Enlightenment faith in progress and human nature and its concern for social justice.

Friedrich Engels

-who Marx teamed up with -also a socialist

social democracy

political ideology in which there is a gradual transition from capitalism to socialism instead of a sudden violent overthrow of the system.