I.

Introduction

Marxism, social and political theory based on the works of Karl Marx and his followers, associated with the socialist and communist movements.

Marx’s works can be broadly divided into his early philosophical writings (Ökonomisch-philosophische Manuskripte aus dem Jahre 1844/Philosophic and Economic Manuscripts of 1844, both written 1844, published 1932, and Die Deutsche Ideologie/The German Ideology, both written 1845-1846, published 1932), his pamphlets (Manifest der Kommunistischen Partei/Communist Manifesto, 1848), his analyses of contemporary events (for example, Der Achtzehnte Brumaire des Louis Napoleon/The Eighteenth of Brumaire of Louis Napoleon, 1852, and Der Bürgerkrieg in Frankreich/The Civil War in France, 1871), his mature and fundamental works (Zur Kritik der Politischen Ökonomie/Contribution to the Critique of Political Economy, 1859), and, above all, Das Kapital (vol. 1, 1867; vols. 2 and 3 published posthumously in 1885 and 1884 respectively). To summarize, let alone explain, this vast and complex theoretical system in a few paragraphs is impossible. The ramifications of the doctrine have included philosophy, economics, history, politics, art, literary criticism, and most of the social sciences. No theorist has been as analysed and discussed in the 20th century and onward as Karl Marx. The reason behind this attention is far from being purely academic. No comparable modern thinker has had as much impact on political parties and movements. Prior to the collapse of communism in Europe at the end of the Cold War, one third of humanity was under regimes purportedly inspired by Marx’s works.