Founders & Origins
Who were the founders of Marxism?
Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels
What is alienation according to Marx?
The worker’s disconnection from their product, work process, potential, and others
In what year was the Communist Manifesto published?
1848
What ethical question does Marxism pose instead of “Is this right?”
Who does this action serve?
Which revolution created the first socialist state?
The Russian Revolution of 1917
In which century was Marxism developed?
The 19th century
Which class sells its labor to survive?
The proletariat
What is Marx’s most important economic work?
Das Kapital
What system does Marxism consider unethical?
Capitalism
Which leader adapted Marxism to Russian conditions?
Vladimir Lenin
What historical conditions influenced the rise of Marxism?
The Industrial Revolution and capitalism
What is historical materialism?
The idea that the economy shapes laws, beliefs, institutions, and society
What is the core critique of capitalism in Das Kapital?
That it is exploitative and prioritizes profit over human needs
How does Marxism define morality?
As shaped by economic systems and benefiting the ruling class
What strategy did Lenin propose to lead the revolution?
A vanguard party to guide the working class
What was the relationship between Marx and Engels?
They were close friends and collaborators who co-authored the Communist Manifesto
What does the “dictatorship of the proletariat” refer to?
A transitional phase where workers seize political power
What is commodity fetishism?
When products seem to have value on their own, hiding the labor behind them
What does “praxis” mean in Marxist ethics?
Connecting beliefs with action to change the world
Which countries adopted Marxism in the 20th century?
USSR, China, Cuba, and others
What did Marx study and where?
Law and Philosophy at the University of Bonn and University of Berlin
What role does class struggle play in history?
It is the driving force behind social change
Which volume of Das Kapital was published first and when?
Volume 1, published in 1867
What is Marxism’s ultimate moral goal?
A just society without oppression or inequality
What happened to Marxism after the fall of the USSR?
It weakened politically but remained influential in theory and social movements