Karl Marx German Philosopher, Political Term Paper

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His Impact

The impact of Marx's theories was not as significant during his lifetime as in the 20th century after his death. Nevertheless, his ideas about class struggle were considered so dangerous by the governments dominated by the elite class that he was repeatedly prosecuted and exiled from major European countries such as France and Germany for propagating revolution. Besides his writings, he formed the Communist League and the First International to promote working class revolutions in the industrial countries, putting his own belief that "there is no point in gaining a deeper insight into the world unless it is a means of changing the world." ("Karl Marx: Man of Millenium.") After his death, however, with the growth of the labor movement in Europe, Marx's theories began to take on greater significance.

Various socialist movements around the world took up his analysis of capitalist economy, his theory of historical materialism, class struggle, and surplus value and made them the basis of scientific socialism. Towards the end of the First World War, Vladimir Lenin, a Russian revolutionary, inspired by Marx's theories on the nature of the capitalist state became the leader of the Communist movement. Considering himself the political and philosophical heir of Marx, Lenin developed a system called Bolshevism and led his followers in the October 1917 Revolution against the Czarist Russia to form a revolutionary Soviet government.

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Other socialist movements based on Marxism sprung up around the world in the 20th century -- the most significant of which was the one led by Mao Zedong in China. Marx's influence is not restricted to Communist societies alone: even conservative governments have ushered in social reforms to reduce the influence of Marxist movements in their countries. Right wing fascist movements in Europe, including Nazism were also supported by industrialists and conservative elements as bulwarks against Comunism. (Singer, 2000)

Marx's influence has declined significantly after the collapse of the Soviet Union and Communist regimes in Europe in the early 1990s. Contemporary supporters of Marx, however, argue that Marx's analysis of Capitalism and economics were basically correct and the failure of Soviet Communism was due to the incorrect interpretation and implementation of Marxism. (Samuels, 1993)

Conclusion

Karl Marx was without doubt the most influential person to have lived in the 19th century Europe. His revolutionary ideas about the importance of economics and class struggle in politics and history influenced not only Europe but the entire world in the century following his death. Even after the collapse of the Soviet Union, Marx's materialistic concept of history, his analysis of Capitalism and theories on class struggle cannot be considered irrelevant by any means......

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