Rev Left Radio [BEST OF] The Fundamentals of Marxism: Historical Materialism, Dialectics, & Political Economy
Jun 11, 2025
Dive into the captivating fundamentals of Marxism as key concepts are unpacked. Explore the critical distinction between materialism and idealism, shedding light on historical materialism. Discover the violent origins of capitalism through primitive accumulation. Engage with the roles of dialectics and class struggle in societal transformations. Examine the relationships between Marxism, anarchism, and social democracy, and embrace the journey of understanding this influential ideology.
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Capitalism, Socialism, Communism Defined
- Marxism defines capitalism as a socioeconomic system ruled by capitalists profiting from workers' labor.
- Socialism is a historical transition from capitalism to a stateless, classless communist society, not a final destination.
Materialism vs Idealism Explained
- Historical materialism holds material conditions, not ideas, drive societal change and history.
- Idealism wrongly prioritizes ideas; materialism demystifies and reveals real economic forces behind events.
Dialectics and History Interconnected
- Dialectics views history and nature as interconnected, changing through contradictions and oppositions.
- Marx transformed dialectics from idealist ideas conflict to material class struggles driving historical change.