revolutionary socialism

Question 1

who are the revolutionary socialists?

Answer 1

-Karl Marx & Friedrich Engels.
-1818-1883.
-Revolutionary Socialists.
-Key Works include: “The Communist Manifesto” (1848), “Das Kapital” (1867).

-Rosa Luxemburg, German politician and leader of the KPD. Killed during the Spartacist Uprising.
-1871-1919.
–Revolutionary Socialist.
-“Reform or Revolution” (1900), where she accepted Marx’s argument that capitalism was exploitative & conflicted with human nature.

Question 2

what do revolutionary socialists believe? (Marx and Engels)

Answer 2

-Their theories were empirical and scientifically determined. They suggested that the class struggle had existed through history & communism was its final destination.
-They thought that communism benefited a tiny minority, and so the proletariat will overthrow capitalism. After this transition, they reasoned that we would enter a stateless, communist society.
-Humans were economic and social beings, but had been contaminated by capitalism.
-Argued that capitalism created two conflicted economic classes: the bourgeoisie, and the proletariat. This led to class differences that were exploited by the wealthy, (employers paid employees minimum wages in order to maximise profit).
-Thought that the state served whichever class controlled the economy, and so a liberal state was “merely a committee” for the ruling class.
-Revolution is not only inevitable, but essential. After revolution, there would be a ‘dictatorship of the proletariat.’

Question 3

what do revolutionary socialists believe? (Luxembourg)

Answer 3

-Argued that evolutionary socialism was flawed, and only real revolution could create change.
-Disagreed with Marx’s ‘historicism’ & historical materialism, and the view that revolution could occur only when capitalism had reached an advanced stage.
-Rejected Marx & Lenin’s ideas about revolution, suggesting that class consciousness would arise gradually and lead to a spontaneous revolution. Mass strike would arise from consciousness, and ignite a revolution to overthrow the state. She didn’t think a vanguard elite would be used to lead it.
-She also rejected the Marxist idea of a ‘dictatorship of the proletariat’, instead advocating for a new kind of democracy.
-Communists should engage with the existing democratic process to convey revolutionary messages to the masses. This appauled lenninists.