Rosa Luxembourg

Question 1

Books?

Answer 1

Reform or revolution? (1900)

Question 2

Human nature

Answer 2

• HN has not been damaged to the extent Marx alleged. Fraternity and altruism still. flourish in working-class communities punished by capitalism

Question 3

The state

Answer 3

• The exisiting capitalist state must be destroyed by revolution, but one arising from strike action. The replacement state should be a genuine democracy, complete with free speech and free elections
• Disagreed that revolution could only occur through the planning of a vanguard elite, but invisioned revolution happening spontaneously through class consciousness

Question 4

Society

Answer 4

• Capitalist society is class-ridden and morally indefensible, yet alternative societies, or subcultures, exist within downtrodden proletarian communities
• If socialism were to be bulit a mass movement was required, preparing the w/c to become free

Question 5

Economy

Answer 5

• Capitalism is more resiliant than marx allowed. Its necessary destruction, and replacement by an economy based on workers’ council, will require determination and solidarity among the proletariat
• In the ‘Accumilation of Capital’ she argued that capitalism must collapse due to its inability to absorb ‘surplus value’ it created