Karl Marx and Communism Flashcards
Who is Karl Marx?
Karl Marx was a German philosopher during the 19th century. He worked primarily in the realm of political philosophy and was a famous advocate for communism
What is the Communist Manifesto?
A political pamphlet written by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, which laid out the principles of communism
Who are the proletariat?
The labouring class - the social class having no significant ownership of the means of production and hence sell their labour to live
Who are the bourgeoisie?
The capitalist class who own the means of production and use it to exploit labour and expand their capital
What is the class struggle?
The ongoing conflict between the bourgeoisie and the proletariat - the political tension and economic antagonism that exists among them
What is surplus value?
The difference between the value of goods produced by workers and the wages paid to them, which is exploited by the capitalist class
What is Capitalism?
Capitalism is an economic system characterised by private ownership of the means of production
What is the essential feature of capitalism?
The motive to make a profit
What is Socialism?
An economic and political system advocating for collective or government ownership of the means of production - for social justice
What are the essential features of Socialism?
- Production for use, rather than for profit
- An equitable distribution of wealth and material resources among all people
- No more competitive buying and selling in the market
- Free access to goods and services.
What is Communism?
An economic and political system in which the means of production are owned and controlled by the community as a whole - with the goal of achieving a classless society and the abolition of private property
What are the essential features of Communism?
- Economic planning through a centrally-controlled economy
- Distribution of resources based on need
- Social ownership of the means of production
- Elimination of class distinctions
What is the difference between Socialism and Communism?
Communism advocates for a classless society with common ownership and distribution of resources based on needs, while Socialism typically supports government or collective ownership with distribution based on contribution and equity
