I don't understand Marxism well.

[sworm09]

This is my first post in this forum!

Anyway I understand the basic concept of Marxism. I understand that the Capitalists are getting all of the money from the workers labor while the workers get little money for the work that they actually did. This is how I see it:

Worker + Hard Work= $$

Business Owner + Workers Hard Work = $$$$$$$$$$

The Business Owner gives the worker enough to survive but keeps a large portion of the workers hard earned money for themselves.

What I don't understand is Leninism, Stalinism, Maoism and what other people brought to the table. What did all of these guys do differently?

[P.O.U.M]

Welcome to the boards, friend.

You got the general idea of what Marxism is. Capitalism and the capitalist screwing the worker. But it's much more than that. Capitalism itself is a flawed system. As the economy goes in cycles. It has it's up's and down's. As Marxist's we wish to eliminate that by creating a planned economy based on the democratic participation of society.

Leninism, Stalinism, and Maoism are but just a few different branches of Marxism. They are the largest trends within Marxism along with Trotskyism. These guy's were all popular because they were at one point or another, leaders of a revolution or head's of state. And each added, in their own way, something to Marxist thought.

Lenin - He contributions included a study on imperialism. He developed the ground work for setting up a revolutionary party, the seizure of power by the proletariat, and studies on the state and party tactics.

Stalin - He developed the idea of "socialism in one country." He also revived the old "stagist" theory.

Mao - He was big on anti-revisionism. Made guerrilla tatics popular and emphasized the role of the peasantry.

Trotsky - Continued Lenins ideas. Made popular the Theory of Permanent Revolution, which was in direct opposition to socialism in one country. Critiqued the USSR calling for a political revolution while defending the planned economy. Wrote extensively on fascism.

Sorry, I'm tired so I just wrote the most basic and incomplete summary of the four ideologies. Here's some links.

(For some reason marxists doesn't have a "Leninism" in their glossary)

http://marxists.org/glossary/terms/s/t.htm#stalinism

http://marxists.org/glossary/terms/m/a.htm#maoism

http://marxists.org/glossary/terms/t/r.htm#trotskyism

[sworm09]

Thanks! :)

[Volkov]

Comrade,

Understanding Marxism takes a lot of work (as a science, it has to be studied seriously), do don't let the daunting tasks get you down.  After all, some of us have been studying it for years and are still learning.

The Newyouth FAQ really helps out as well.  See it at http://www.newyouth.com/content/view/129/63/

[P.O.U.M]

As Volkov said, Marxism is huge. Nothing really escapes the grasp of it. It's just best to start off with the basics and worry about the competing trends of Marxism later. You really don't want to get into the various tatics, politics, and history of the trends just yet. Though I would just keep an open mind and lean towards Trotskyism in the mean time. ;)

Try following along with the study group. It's a short phamplet on "What is Fascism and How to Fight It". It might help you with  historical materialism, which is a foundation for Marxist thought.

http://discussion.newyouth.com/index.php/topic,2826.msg22513.html#new

The article we are reading is here:

http://marxists.org/archive/trotsky/works/1944/1944-fas.htm

And please, if you are confused about anything, just ask.

[Dimitri]

Stay in this forum, ask questions regularly, study the FAQ on www.newyouth.com , read some material (easy stuff first) and also see how marxism is applied in practice on www.marxist.com.
You can always meet up with marxists irl too and have some discussions. From what I know, we are friendly people. heh

[fire_mat99]

Comrade,

Understanding Marxism takes a lot of work (as a science, it has to be studied seriously), do don't let the daunting tasks get you down.  After all, some of us have been studying it for years and are still learning.

The Newyouth FAQ really helps out as well.  See it at http://www.newyouth.com/content/view/129/63/

The articals at wikipedia ,www.newyouth.com and communist manifesto are good place to start .But a political science course in school is good place after the basic undserstanding.I look at election polls and political experts on the political climate of who likely to get in.The political experts on are radio station do not push political views all they do is talk about election and polls and candide problems.

The NDP in Canada got almost 20% and the green party got almost 7%.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canadian_election_2008

[sworm09]

Thanks :)

[Dimitri]

@Firemat.

More important than looking at results, is analyzing the political scene." Experts" do not offer a good analysis on that. Their analysis is mostly very superficial.
If you are interested in the NDP you can look at our canadian website www.marxist.ca
Currently we are part of the ever growing opposition to Carole James in BC, the leader of the NDP, whose leadership has brought the party so much to the right, that it has liberal right wing policies.
If the NDP had socialist policies, its support would go to the roof! It would become one of the two major parties.  When it is almost undistinguishable from the Liberals, the people just choose to vote for the "bigger party with the same policies". When it is different and people see the dividing line, they are going to vote for them.

For example in the recent elections, when the NDP anounced a left-reformist platform, their support went to 25% and it was rising! It would displace the Liberals because there is no need for 2 bourgeois parties! But then it changed its rhetoric to "strong leader" etc and it ended up with 18% (or less).

The Greens are very right wing. You can't regulate the environment if you don't own the companies that make the emissions. It comes down to this. You can't control what you don't own.

[jesuschristdotcom]

Trotsky also championed the need for a Transitional Program.

http://www.marxists.org/archive/trotsky/1938/tp/tp-text.htm

[brayen]

comrade...you just have to search and read...you have to depend on yourself...this sites can help:
 
www.marxist.com,lariposte.com,en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marxism,...