International Marxism

Paper Summary:

The paper examines Marxism within the context of international theory and overviews the debate between competing perspectives in that field. The paper argues that Marxism presents a relevant frame of reference in understanding the contemporary world and, in particular, the international system.

From the Paper:

"Marxist political ideology had set itself up against the dominant orders of existence since its inception. It challenged, questioned and analyzed both society and history, with interpretations of both within the oppressor-oppressed framework, leading the call for the revolutionization of the existing political systems. Consequently, it made many enemies and was deeply feared by the Imperial and, later, Western powers, insofar as it empowered the weak/oppressed by giving them a blueprint for action and a legitimization for revolutionary movement. Thus, the fall of the Soviet Union and the collapse of Communism across Eastern Europe were greeted with delight as many interpreted those historic events as a discrediting of Marxism and a victory of the end-of-history ideology (Fukuyama). This much can be inferred from Francis Fukuyama's analysis of the "triumph" of Western liberal political economy. Nonetheless, and without entering into debates on whether Marxism fell due to the incorrect application of the ideology, or because of fallacies within the ideology itself, the perception of the Marxist theory as dead is incorrect. The Marxist theory has profoundly important interpretive value within the study of sociology, political science, and especially within the field of International Relations, despite Marx and Engel having written very little on IR as such."

More papers on International Marxism:

• Essay # 59301 : "International Marxism"
• Analytical Essay # 143203 : "Marxism On International Relations"
• Analytical Essay # 58954 : "Understanding International Political Economy"

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