The Bolsheviks and Marxism - 1354 Words

Analyzing the Bolshevik State compared to Marxism can be difficult because Marx, Engels and their followers gave relatively little thought to what the state would look like after a socialist revolution. Engels famously wrote, â€Å"the state is not ‘abolished,’ it withers away,† which highlights the hazy and unfixed nature of Marx and Engle’s writings on the ultimate, classless society they envisioned. Further, what they did write is subject to the differing interpretations by numerous socialist parties all claiming to be Marxist. As discussed earlier, Lenin claimed he simply reshaped Marxism to fit the conditions of Russia. Others argue his interpretation was not true Marxism at all. However, the basic principles of a socialist state in the eyes of Marx’s are outlined in the Communist Manifesto as follows: 1. Abolition of property in land and application of all rents of land to public purposes. †¨ 2. A heavy progressive or graduated income tax. †¨ 3. Abolition of all rights of inheritance. †¨ 4. Confiscation of the property of all emigrants and rebels. †¨ 5. Centralization of credit in the hands of the state, by means of a national bank with State capital and an exclusive monopoly. †¨ 6. Centralization of the means of communication and transport in the hands of the State. †¨ 7. Extension of factories and instruments of production owned by the State; the bringing into cultivation of waste-lands, and the improvement of the soil generally in accordance with a common plan. †¨ 8.Show MoreRelatedKarl Marx And Marxism1229 Words   |  5 Pagestime Russia was not economically advanced and had many farmers. Lenin felt he had to change the aspects of Marxism to fit Russia Lenin argued that the capitalists in European countries engaged in a policy of imperialism, or empire building, to extract the wealth from colonies and use part of that wealth to buy the proletarian class into submission. Thus, according to this new take on Marxism, class exploitation is not just a domestic phenomenon but occurs between States as well. Lenin also pointedRead MoreThe Russian Revolution Of 1917848 Words   |  4 Pagesoutcomes of this revolution using Marxist theory, explaining the key ideologies that come in to play as the revolution comes to an end and the newly established Bolshevik government, led by Vladimir Lenin, decides how the nation will be run. Marxism is a socialist ideology that is derived from the workings of Karl Marx and Fredrick Engles. Marxism discusses how society functions in a political and economical way, as well as looking in to the structure of class and class struggle within a society. MarxistsRead MoreTrotsky s Influence On The Revolution1225 Words   |  5 PagesGovernorate, Russian Empire (now in Ukraine) Leon Trotsky was a member of the Bolshevik party, which he only became a part of once he returned to Russia after being in exile in New York, once he returned he was arrested by Kerensky, the new prime minister. He was soon released and once he was Trotsky became Chairman of the Petrograd Soviet. Soon the Provisional Government was overthrown, and Lenin the leader of the Bolsheviks claimed power. Now as Trotsky was the Commissar of Foreign Affairs, TrotskyRead MoreThe Fundamental Causes of the Russian Revolution Essay1299 Words   |  6 Pagesthe people who wanted control over their own production in the factories. The concept of Marxism was recognized by the Russians as early as 1980. The first Marxist group was formed by Georgi Valentinovich Plekhanov, known as the Father of Russian Marxism in 1883. In the late 1800s, one of Plekhanovs most passionate supporters was Vladimir Lenin. Lenin admired Plekhanov as the founder of Russian Marxism and strove to master the revolutionary activity and party building Plekhanov had begun. InRead MoreLeon Trotsky s Influence On The Soviet Revolution1496 Words   |  6 Pagesthe 1905 Revolution, in the eventual Communist Revolution of October 1917, and in the Russian Civil War. Without Trotsky’s impact in the Russian Revolution, the Bolsheviks would have been defeated. His own beliefs on Marxism combined with his intellect made Trotsky a target and influential leader in the Soviets. From his studies on Marxism, he created Trotskyism, a Marxist ideology based on the theory of permanent revolution. Also, his organization-building skills and revoluti onary military ideasRead MoreThe Russian Revolution Of 19171563 Words   |  7 Pagesof Vladimir Lenin and Leon Trotsky organized the Bolsheviks, or Red Army, in political and military strategy against the Menshevik White Army. Part of their success came from the lack of unification of the Mensheviks. While the White Army banded together under a simply ‘anti-Bolshevik’ policy, the Red Army was spurred on by one philosophy: communism. However, only the broader-picture ideals of the Communist Manifesto directly influenced the Bolsheviks. Instead they modified Marx’s teachings, becauseRead MoreLeon Trotsky1373 Words   |  6 Pagesthan international history. He was born on November 7, 1879, Ukraine (Yanovka) and later changed his name to Leon Trotsky, the name of his prison guard at Odessa prison whilst in exile in Siberia. Trotsky was introduced to Marxism at a young age of 17 at a school in Nikolayev. Marxism is a political ideology crated by Karl Marx and Fried rich Engels that presents the idea of having a revolution involving violence in order to obtain a classless society. The rise of Trotsky’s political power starts duringRead MoreTrotsky And The Soviet Revolution1434 Words   |  6 Pagesa product of their time due to his participation in Russia s revolution and the series of important events leading to the revolution, his ability to successfully lead an army of over 5 million in the Russian civil war, intellectual literature on Marxism and revolutionary powers and his position as a Commissar of War. Though this statement was not always relevant to Trotsky, during the struggle for power in the 1920s he was decimated by Joseph Stalin whom had far great ability to politically maneuverRead MoreLenins Power Essay1209 Words   |  5 Pagesable to consolidate his power because of the weakness of his opponents. Find evidence to support or refute this statement. Chloe Tomlinson There were many different equally important reasons why Lenin and the Bolsheviks were able to hold on to their power. For Lenin, and the Bolsheviks, winning political power was relatively easy, compared with retaining it. They had many different objects to overcome, such as; Russia was in chaos, politically and economically, and normal government had brokenRead MoreRussia s Revolutionary Fabric : Lenin1599 Words   |  7 PagesRussia’s Revolutionary Fabric: Lenin Lenin believed in a distinctly violent revolutionary ideology. Lenin claimed that he strictly followed Marxism, yet his policies and actions did not reflect it. One need only to read Lenin’s What is to be Done? and contrast it with Marx’s The Manifesto of the Communist Party to note the stark differences between their ideologies. Lenin believed that the working class could not reach class consciousness – the realization that capitalism exploits the working class