Development of Socialism

Overview

• Recent lessons covered the introduction to socialism, including main ideas and movements.
• Focus in this lesson: Development of socialism through key thinkers.
• Key thinkers discussed: Karl Marx, Frederick Engels, and Rosa Luxemburg.

Key Thinkers

Karl Marx and Frederick Engels

• Founding Fathers: Considered the founders of modern socialism.
• Utopian Socialism: Built on ideas from philosophers like Jean-Jacques Rousseau.
• Key Works:
  • Communist Manifesto: Foundation of their socialist ideology.
  • Das Kapital: Critique of political economy and capitalism.
  • Other works: The German Ideology, Critique of the Gotha Program.
• Main Ideas:
  • Historical Materialism: Society's history is the history of class struggle.
  • Class Struggle: State perpetuates the interests of the bourgeoisie.
  • Religion: Described as "opium of the people", sedating societal struggle awareness.
  • State: Believed the state would "wither away" as class distinctions dissolve.
• Revolution and Transition:
  • Revolution would lead to proletariat control and transition to socialism.
  • Dictatorship of the proletariat would eventually lead to a classless, stateless society (communism).

Rosa Luxemburg

• Contributions: Expanded on Marx and Engels' ideas with own critiques and suggestions.
• Key Works:
  • Reform or Revolution
  • The Mass Strike, the Political Party, and the Trade Unions
• Critique of Reform:
  • Opposed socialism through legal or political reform.
  • Advocated mass strikes and worker revolution as means to achieve worker emancipation.
• Importance of Strikes:
  • Develops proletariat class consciousness and camaraderie.
  • Educates workers and improves organization of worker movements.

Conclusion

• Luxemburg emphasized that reforms within liberal democracies cannot achieve socialism.
• Mass strikes and worker revolution deemed necessary for achieving socialism and communism.