Marxism - Simple English Wikipedia

# Marxism

### From Wikipedia, a free encyclopedia written in simple English for easy reading.

Marxism is the name for a set of political ideas. These ideas come from the works of Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels. They have had a lot of influence in many countries. Very often, both authors are named, as it is difficult to say which of the two wrote what piece of the theory.

Modern Communism is based on Marxist ideas, but many Marxists disagree about whether Communist countries have understood Marxism correctly.

## [edit] The working class

Marxism says there are different economic classes (or groups) of people. Most people need to work to get money. They are called "workers". They belong to the "working class" (or "proletariat"). Marxism says that business owners are unfair to workers. Business owners are called "capitalists".

Most workers work for companies owned by other people or groups. The capitalist pays a wage to the worker. He also pays other costs (such as the cost of materials). After he has paid these costs, he usually has some money left over. This money is profit. Marxism says that even if the capitalists do no work, they get profit, because other people are doing work for them.

The profit is surplus value. It is part of the value of the work which the workers have done. Marxists believe that the capitalist has stolen this money from the worker.

## [edit] Materialism

From a philosophical standpoint, Marxists are materialists. A materialist is someone who believes that the world around us is made of material, that there are no gods or other supernatural things. "Economics" (money and property) are the forces that govern society. "Spiritual" matters are secondary, or unimportant, as the existence of a spirit is not scientifically proven.

Dialectic. A dialectic is an argument or conflict between different groups. The different groups or classes have their own interests and needs.

Dialectical materialism is the idea that the history of humans is the history of conflict between classes. Different classes with different interests argue or fight each other. Social change is the result.

Many Marxists believe that there will be a revolution. In the revolution, the workers will fight the capitalists and will (eventually) win. After this, they will set up a Socialism - "workers' state" (a government for the workers) that will serve as a temporary state (just for a time) until all capitalist-countries have been defeated. In the end, class conflict will finish, and there will be a "classless society" - a society which has no social groups are in conflict and there is no government anymore, and the state will be dismantled, voluntarily or not, and it will be a borderless world with world-wide communes and worker-councils.

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Category: Philosophy

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