2.3. The (Neo) Marxist Challenge Learning Objectives: Understand how Marxists describe global politics, and why Identify Marxist views of power and the state Describe world system concept and dependency theory Explain the relevance of Marxist concepts in contemporary global politics

2.3. The (Neo) Marxist Challenge A Crisis of Relevance? The Principles of Marxism Marxists, Power and the World System Marxists and Global Politics

2.3. (Neo) Marxism Intellectual Roots Karl Marx ( ) Friedrich Engels ( ) Vladimir Ilyich Ulyanov (Lenin) ( ) Leon Trotsky ( )

2.3. (Neo) Marxism A Crisis of Relevance The Principles of Marxism

2.3. The (Neo) Marxist Challenge Economic forces dominant (materialism) Human society is evolving Key actors are classes (bourgeoisie and the proletariat) Study Tip: Marxism is a very different way of looking at the world, one that has profound implications for our understanding of global politics. Make sure you are able to use Marxism as an analytical tool. Practice explaining events like the Iraq War or the conflict in the Sudan through the Marxist perspective.

2.3. The (Neo) Marxist Challenge The Contributions of Lenin –Theory of Imperialism –“Vanguard Party”

2.3. The (Neo) Marxist Challenge World System Theory/Dependency Theory Andre Gunder Frank Henrique Fernando Cardoso Gramscianism and Hegemony Antonio Gramsci Robert Cox Study Tip: Be sure you understand the dependency theory view of the relationship between classes at the international level.

Summary After the class on Marxism, you should have a good understanding of how Marxists describe global politics (especially their emphasis on classes as the key actors) You should be able to identify the Marxist view of power and explain how this power is relevant in global politics. You should be able to compare and contrast Marxism with Liberalism and Realism. You should be able to explain the influence of Lenin on Marxist approaches to global politics. Your should be familiar with “dependency theory” and the implications of this theory for global politics today. Next, we will examine a new theoretical challenger: postmodernism and constructivism.