Marksizm

Marksizm is a broad family of social, political, and economic theories based on the works of Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels. It analyzes society through historical materialism, the view that material productive forces and relations of production shape social structures and development. It uses dialectical methods to study change and emphasizes the primacy of class struggle, particularly the conflict between the bourgeoisie and the proletariat. Central concepts include the labor theory of value, surplus value, exploitation, commodity fetishism, and the idea that economic organization under capitalism conditions political and ideological life.

According to Marxism, capitalism is a historically specific, dynamic stage that contains internal contradictions and crises, which can pave the way for socialist and eventually communist society. A transitional phase, often described as the dictatorship of the proletariat, would dismantle capitalist property relations, democratize the economy, and ultimately lead to a classless, stateless communism where production serves human needs. Variants and schools of thought include Marxism-Leninism, Western or analytical Marxism, Luxemburgism, Maoism, and others, reflecting differences on strategy, organization, and the role of the state.

Since the 19th century, Marxist ideas have influenced political movements, parties, labor movements, and academic disciplines such as political economy and sociology. They have been the subject of extensive debate and criticism, including questions about economic determinism, the feasibility of central planning, and the outcomes of historical attempts to implement Marxist programs. Proponents argue that Marxism provides a critical framework for understanding capitalism and for imagining alternative social arrangements.