Monday, March 29, 2010

Today we discussed Marx and this theories. I have pasted the notes below. We then discussed ways in which dictators get or maintain power and control. We didn't finish these notes but I have posted what we did finish below as well. If you are wondering about the readings for the holidays, I expect that you will have read chapters 5 thru 7 by the time you get back.
Marxism, part I
How Marx thought change would come about (dialectical materialism)
Primitive communalism

Slavery

Feudalism or Rule by the Nobility
The upper class of rich people, who took the profits and controlled the government of the county, would be overthrown by

Capitalism
The bourgeoisie, the middle class (small businessmen, shopkeepers, etc) would rule society for a while; then be overthrown by

Socialism
The proletariat or working class establish a dictatorship to control every aspect of society and move it towards ...

Utopian Communism
Everyone works freely for the good of everyone else and does not try to gain more than the next person

The Ideal Marxist Society
Governing Values:
All the people - food, shelter, health, physical, psychological needs
A circle, all equality
Economic Planning:
Elected representatives=>info about needs=>production=>distribution to meet needs
Abolished: (1) private property
(2) profit motive
(3) crime
Result: communism creates a society where all interests and people are treated equally, as opposed to capitalism which creates a society where the interests of the rich capitalist bourgeoisie, exploit the interests of the poor proletariat.

Marxism, part II
Marx and Engels
· Karl Marx (1818 - 1883) father of communism
· Friedrich Engels (1820 - 1895) main intellectual partner
Communist Manifesto
· co-authored by Marx and Engels
Class according to Marxism
· society made up of two classes hostile to each other:
o bourgeoisie - upper class, landowners, capitalists, bankers, industrialists
o proletariat - worker, farmer, poor
Das Kapital
· mostly written by Marx (completed by Engels after his death), explains theory of scientific socialism
Scientific socialism (dialectical materialism)
· basic motive of men: to gain as much economically as possible (materialistic)
o to understand history, one must understand the economic forces that motivate men i.e. wars, religious movements, social change all occur in order to satisfy the economic interests of those who are involved
· class struggle results from this basic motive: a clash of interests between bourgeois owners and the proletarian workers over making economic gains
o the bourgeoisie try to make as much profit as possible, resist demands made by the proletariat
o capitalism is the economic system of the bourgeoisie; they control the economy because they own the means of production e.g. the factories
o the proletariat are to carry out the revolutionary overthrow of the government through the use of force
Stage of socialism (the stage the USSR achieved)
· public ownership of the means of production e.g. state owned factories, banks, industries
· production is geared to meet basic human needs e.g. industrial production geared toward providing food, clothing and shelter (the necessities of life), not makeup, cigarettes (the luxuries produced only to encourage consumption in capitalist societies)
· rational central planning is followed
o capitalist laws of supply and demand are thrown out
o all production is carefully planned, carried out for a specific social purpose
· dictatorship of the proletariat is established to make sure
o capitalism does not return
o principles of socialism are carried out
Stage of communism
· not yet achieved in this world, exists as a theory only, no practical example
· after all private ownership ends, there will be no need for political power
· all forms of the state or government would wither away
· society would be classless, without recognized leaders or an elite
· the state would be replaced by a cooperative free association of people
· people would live by one golden rule:
o to each according to his needs, from each according to his abilities
o everyone would contribute to their fullest for the common good
· no one's needs in society would be left unsatisfied
· also known as utopian socialism, utopian anarchy

Dictatorship

Dictatorship: a system of government in which the leader is not
bound to rule by law, and the government is not
accountable to the people.

Absolutism: rule that is not subject to constitutional limits

Autocracy: a government by a few, or by a special group
sharing the same interests

Totalitarianism: a form of government in which one political
party totally dominates all aspects of society

Major characteristics of Totalitarian rule

Propaganda
All forms of media communication are controlled by the government. News of the outside world and news of national concern is censored, altered, and presented to the people so that it best serves the interest of the government. In endless variation, the government bombards the people with its view of the world. Its view is the only view. Its view becomes the truth. Propaganda is one-sided information.

Indoctrination
Indoctrination takes the place of education. Citizens, and particularly the youth, are not given alternatives or choices of what to believe in. They are subject to a systematic presentation of information designed to strengthen their support of the government. Schools and universities serve the interests of the government. Success is not measured in terms of original, or creative thinking, but rather conformity.


Direction of Popular Discontent
It is highly unlikely that a dictatorship would always be able to keep its people in line and content. They are likely to harbour some frustration or grievance. If, however, their grievances can be directed against groups other than the government; if the government can find someone else to blame (scapegoat), then the policies of the government will not be questioned. In fact, the government gains further support from the people.