1. Marxist historiography
HIS 601 – Week 8
Marxist historiography

2. What is Marxism?

3. What is Marxism?

4. What is Marxism?

6. What is Marxism?

7. What is Marxism?
A social theory created originally by Karl Marx (1818–1883), in collaboration with Friedrich Engels (1820–1895);
Their works inspired the creation of several many communist regimes in the twentieth century (USSR, China, Korea, Vietnam, Cuba);
As well as communist parties in most countries in the world (Britain, France, India, Brazil…);
it is hard to find another theory that had as much influence in the creation of the modern world!

8. What is Marxism?
Marxism is known throughout the world as being a revolutionary theory and its association with communism.
“Philosophers have hitherto only interpreted the world in various ways; the point is to change it.”
Marxism theory helped to create competition between communist and capitalist countries that defined the 20th century (especially during the Cold War)

9. What is Marxism?
Marxism believes in the central role of the economy in social change throughout history;
This was different from previous philosophers (who were looking into politics and military as being the causes of changes in history)
For Marxism, economic forces had changed societies (from ancient times, to medieval times to modern capitalism)

10. What is Marxism?
Marxists believed (some still believe) that economic forces are still transforming the world until it reaches its culmination in communism.
Friedrich Engels wrote that Marx: “discovered the law of development of human history” similarly to the way Darwin discovered the law of development of biology

11. The Communist Manifesto
Marxism is essentially summarized in just one document: The Communist Manifesto;
It is a short writing created to inspire the workers’ revolution in Paris (1848);
It was the first of the European Revolutions of 1848, (also known in Spring of Nations, Springtime of the Peoples );
These revolutions in Europe were related to: 1- dissatisfaction with corrupt and pro-monarchy politicians; 2-struggles for freedom and democracy; 3- organization of working classes (unsatisfied with capitalism); 4- new ideas were emerging: such as popular liberalism, nationalism and communism;.

12. Battle at Soufflot barricades at Rue Soufflot Street on 24 June 1848 – by Horace Vernet

13. The Communist Manifesto
this was the revolutionary backdrop to the Communist Manifesto;
There was a new class of workers, who faced a new type of exploitation (from industrial capitalism).;
These workers had already the choice of another new political movement – communism;
Communism is a political system where as much as possible is owned ‘in common’ (it is the opposite of capitalism’s private ownership).

14. Poster criticizing capitalism, 1911

15. The Communist Manifesto
The main idea of the Communist Manifesto is that in every historical period has a prevailing ‘mode of economic production’;
…and that social organisation is a result from the mode of production;
In other words: the economy shapes the political and cultural aspects of a society, including the intellectual beliefs and ideas.

16. Modes of Production
5 modes of production: Asiatic, ancient, feudal, capitalist …and communist!
1- Asiatic mode of production: tyrannical-monarchic ruling classes; who resided in central cities and directly exploited surplus from rural villages belonging to them;
2- Ancient mode of production: economy was based on slavery; the ruling classes physically owned the lower classes.

17. Modes of Production
5 modes of production: Asiatic, ancient, feudal, capitalist …and communist!
3- Feudal mode of production: European medieval times…eventhough the lower
classes were not directly owned by the ruling class, they were were tied to the land owned by the ruling class (serfdom)
4- Capitalist mode of production: current mode of production. It is a mode dominated by private property and markets (bourgeoisie, who control the economy, exploit the working classes…)

18. Modes of Production
The last mode of production would be communism;
According to Marxism: history changed by means of social revolutions, which led to shifts between modes of production;
Each mode of production had a class struggle: conflict between poor and rich (kings versus subjects; masters versus slaves; nobility versus serfs; bourgeoisie versus working-class, etc).
Class struggle would only end with communism: where property and the economy would be owned by all people…

19. The Communist Manifesto’s famous phrases:
“‘the whole history of mankind has been a history of class struggles”
Struggles “between exploited and exploiting, ruling and oppressed . . .’ exploiting, ruling and oppressed . . .”
“Let the ruling classes tremble at a communistic revolution. The working classes have nothing to lose but their chains. They have a world to win!”
“ Workers of the world, unite!”

20. Marxist ideals: Free education for all in state-run schools;
Abolition of land ownership and rents;
State ownership of the means of communication and transportation;
everyone would be expected to co-operate enthusiastically in the economy (not forced);
“From each according to his ability; to each according to his need." Marx
These ideals would inspired communist revolutions throughout the 20th century (USSR, China, Vietnam, Cuba…)

21. Marxism and historiography:
Historical materialism: is the name Marx’s (and Engel’s) theory about history and changes in societies;
As mentioned: Marxism privileges economic explanations of the world;
To understand historical materialism, we have to understand: dialectic and materialism;

22. Dialectic:
Marx was indebted to the works of Georg W. F. Hegel (philosopher);
Hegel’s major contributions to philosophy was his dialectical method;
Hegel believed in human’s progressive movement towards the Absolute (God)

23. Dialectic:
Humans would leave behind ignorance towards an increasing self-awareness;
This was achieved by better knowledge of reality; resulting from newer and truer forms of seeing the world;
Knowledge is created by the contradiction between the thesis and antithesis, which generate a synthesis.
In dialectics, these contradictions are necessary for change!

25. Marxist Dialectic:
Marx used this understanding of contradiction to define class struggles;
the contradiction/opposition between a ruling class and a lower class;
contradictory relationship that is present between the thesis and antithesis.
The strugles between the ruling class of society (thesis) and the lower class (antithesis), is what generates a radical change to a new society (synthesis).

27. Marxist Dialectic: Marxist dialectic is different from Hegel’s
Hegel was an idealist (Idealism is the notion that reality is based upon ideas or the mind).
Contrary to Hegel (who followed idealism); Marxism is based on materialism (reality is only material: matter and energy)
Materialism is the opposite of idealism…
For Hegel, the dialectic changes in history ( thesis versus antithesis = synthesis) happened because of opposing ideas;
For Marx, the dialectic changes in history happened not because of ideas, but because of material reasons (related to the economy);

28. Materialism:
Is the belief that the world is a physical reality: it is made up of matter and energy, nothing more!
For materialists, you cannot explain the world through religions, Gods, spirits, etc…
These are considered supernatural phenomena (that is, beyond scientific understanding and the laws of nature);
For materialists, the world has to be explained through human actions and material reasons;

29. Materialism:
For materialists, humans were born on Earth, and will die on Earth, and no afterlife awaits them...
They tend to be critics of religions;
They argued that religion oppressed and pacified workers (religion told them to passively accept their exploitation in earth, because they would get their redemption in heaven)
Religion, to Marx, is human’s attempt to ease their misery in life caused by exploitation.

30. Materialism:
“Religion is the sigh of the oppressed creature. Religion is the opium of the people. The overcoming of religion as the illusory happiness of the people is the demand for their real happiness.” (Marx and Engels)

31. Historical materialism:
Different from Hegel (for whom changes in history happened because of changes in ideas), Marx focused on material reasons for changes in history;
The starting point of historical materialism is: "the real individuals, their activity and the material conditions of life.“
economic forces are the primary forces that change history (through class conflict: the battle between the rich and the poor)

32. Historical materialism:
Humans were always changing the world…
But the main changes are not caused by ideas, thoughts or intervention of Gods/religions;
but with picks, shovels, ploughs, diggers, looms and lathes!;
Labor physically changes the world;
It causes the economic forces to develop;
Since humans are able to gain more and more control over their environment.

33. Historical materialism:
For example, farmers at one point used animal-driven plows to plant crops in order to make a living.
Eventually, tractors that performed the same task as animals, but much more efficiently, were developed
This gave farmers greater control of their environment.
But, as economic forces develop, class struggles also become more intense;
For example, these tractors are privately owned by industrial farmers (and workers loose the control over their work tools; new technology in farms also leads to unemployment, discontent, etc);
But then the ruling classes create laws (and use education and religions) to regulate/justify the economic exploitation of the lower classes;

35. Historical materialism:
Class struggles provide the contradiction that causes changes in history;
Two classes ( ruling and lower) always struggle against each other;
until one eventually wins and becomes the new ruling class.
From this new ruling class, another lower class will develop....
continuing the historical process
Until communism will finish all class conflicts…

36. Assignments: changes! Only two more response papers (Text 5 and Text )
Each of these response papers will be worth 5% of the overall unit mark.
One oral group presentation (worth 15% of the overall unit mark).
Presentations will happen in week 13 (05/08 – 09/08)

37. Assignments: changes! Class will be divided in 10 groups of 6 members
Groups will be evaluated for their teamwork and quality of the a whole presentation;
But each student will receive an individual mark for her/his presentation;
Each group will have 25 minutes to present;
Each individual student should present for at least 3-4 minutes

38. Themes of the presentations:
1- Rankean historiography; 2- Annales historiography; 3- Pacific historiography; 4- Marxist historiography; 5- Feminist historiography; 6- Postcolonial historiography; 7- Oral historiography 8- Postmodern historiography 9- …or any other historiographical theory/approach (provided you discuss it with your lecturer)

39. Oral presentations: marking criteria
If the each individual student:
1- Introduced his/her topic clearly: outlined the main areas to be covered;
2- communicated contents clearly;
3- Ideas well linked / sequenced.
4- Strong concise summary, drawing information together.
5- Time well managed

40. Oral presentations: marking criteria
If the each individual student:
6- Used language appropriate to discipline and for the occasion;
7- Used and explained specialist vocabulary where necessary;
8- Spoke at appropriate speed, fluency and intonation (didn’t rush, used pauses well, etc)
9- Sounded confident;
10 - Effective eye contact, facial expression and body language, engaging and not distracting the audience.

41. Oral presentations: resources
Each individual student may:
use one cue card to help deliver the presentation;
but are not permitted to read them from a script.
Cue cards are optional and will have no bearing on your assessment.
The cue card:
May comprise one sheet of paper, approximately one quarter of the A4 size paper.
You may use one side only.
If using a cue card, it must contain a maximum of 20 words.
You are not required to submit your cue card.

42. Oral presentations: resources
Also, each individual student may:
 electronic technology (powerpoint)
and other visual aids (historical photographs, paintings, etc)
No videos are permitted during the presentations.

43. HIS601 – unit marks Text 1 Text 2 Text 3 Text 4 Text 5 Text 6
Oral presentation
Final exam 6% 7% 5%
15%
50%