"What is Marxism?" is a book aimed at newcomers to Marxist theory, introducing dialectical materialism, historical materialism, and Marxist economics. The book includes key extracts from works by Karl Marx, Friedrich Engels, Vladimir Lenin, and Leon Trotsky. The book argues that Marxism is becoming increasingly attractive to workers and young people around the world, despite claims that it is irrelevant or dead. The book is available in paper copy and as an ebook.
In this epoch of instability, crisis, war and ever-growing inequality, Marxism is becoming an increasingly attractive proposition to millions of workers and young people around the world. The old mole of revolution, to use Karl Marx’s own phrase, is burrowing deep into the foundations of society.
And yet we are repeatedly told that Marxism is either irrelevant, or out-dated, or even dead. Yet, if that were true, why are so many books and articles churned out year-on-year attacking Marxism? Clearly the powers that be are rattled or indeed frightened by these “dead” ideas.
So what is this set of ideas that frightens them so much? Marxism – or scientific socialism – is the name given to the body of ideas first worked out by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels more than 150 years ago. In their totality, these ideas provide a fully worked-out theoretical basis for the struggle of the working class to attain a higher form of human society – socialism.
This book is aimed specifically at newcomers to Marxism. A bestseller now in its second edition, it comprises introductory pieces on the three component parts of Marxist theory, corresponding broadly to philosophy, social history and economics: dialectical materialism, historical materialism and Marxist economics. Complementing these introductions are key extracts from some of the great works of Marxism written by its most outstanding figures – Marx, Engels, Lenin and Trotsky.
Available from Wellred in paper copy and as an ebook
Table of Contents
Introduction
- Preface to the First Edition (by Rob Sewell)
- The Ideas of Karl Marx (by Alan Woods)
1. Dialectical Materialism
- What Is Dialectical Materialism? (by Rob Sewell)
- The ABC of Materialist Dialectics (by Leon Trotsky)
- Ludwig Feuerbach and the End of Classical German Philosophy (extract) (by Frederick Engels)
- The Three Sources and Three Component Parts of Marxism (extract) (by V I Lenin)
- On the Question of Dialectics (by V I Lenin)
- Summary of Dialectics (by V I Lenin)
- Questions on Dialectical Materialism
- Suggested Reading
2. Historical Materialism
- What Is Historical Materialism? (by Alan Woods)
- Letter to J Bloch (by Frederick Engels)
- Ludwig Feuerbach and the End of Classical German Philosophy (extract) (by Frederick Engels)
- Preface to A Contribution to the Critique of Political Economy (by Karl Marx)
- Questions on Historical Materialism
- Suggested Reading
3. Marxist Economics
- What Is Marxist Economics? (by Rob Sewell)
- The Living Thoughts of Karl Marx (extract) (by Leon Trotsky)
- The Three Sources and Three Component Parts of Marxism (extract) (by V I Lenin)
- Questions on Marxist Economics
- Suggested Reading