1. A Brief Explanation of Marxism
Dialectics, Democracy and Enlightenment

2. Overview In this lesson you will examine: The basic beliefs of Marxism
An explanation of class dialectics
The expected result of an ideal Marxist society

3. Beliefs
That all men are equal but that the inequality of wealth creates conflict
That capitalism as a system is the exploitation of workers by those who own the means of production, the bourgeoisie (middle-class)
That capitalism is merely a stage towards an ultimate socio-political system (communism)

4. Progress through Conflict
Marx believed that history could be explained as the result of opposing forces destroying each other to “progress” forward:
Communism
Capitalist Democracy
Bourgeoisie
Workers
Monarchy
Landowners
Merchants

5. “The Workers’ Paradise”
Once a communist revolution was complete, Marx expected the following to occur:
That there would only be a single class
That there would be equality of wealth
That the means of production would belong to the people
That decisions would be made democratically