From Marx to Gramsci

Analysis

Marxism is just one method of socioeconomic analysis of class, social conflict, and social transformation. It is a political ideology that people do or do not prescribe to. In this analysis section, we will provide questions for you to either reflect upon alone or discuss with others – doing both would also require you to do further research. 

Plan of action

Many are critical of Marxism because its plan of action (its plan for achieving a socialist revolution) may seem vague or unattainable.

1. How do you understand Marxists’ plan of action?

2. Does that plan of action seem feasible to you?

3. Regardless of your answer to question 2, what do you think it would take in your community to bring about a socialist revolution?

In your own life

As is repeatedly stated, a socialist revolution is not a single act, but a process. If you were to fight for a socialist revolution, what role would you play?

1. Are you the employer or the employed in your place of work? Do the employed have a union? Why or why not?

2. Identify the socialist political party/parties in your community. What tactics have they used to bring about a socialist revolution?

3. According to Le Blanc, Marxists rely on democracy to bring about a proletarian revolution. What is the state of democracy in your community? What could you do to bring it closer to a democracy that Marxists need?

Relevance to today

The book focuses on the foundations of Marxist scholarship. The youngest scholar profiled, Gramsci, died before the end of World War II. 

1. Do you agree that for Marxism to succeed, countries must first be democratic? Why or why not?

2. What would Marxists make of the international world order that came after World War II, be it with the creation of the United Nations, the Cold War, the rise of the United States, or the rise of China?

3. How would Marxist analysis of capitalism affect or explain international neoliberal economics? Think of how banks like the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank provide loans to so-called “underdeveloped” countries. 

4. When the oldest Marxists were around, there were roughly 1.6 billion people on the planet. Today, we have 7.8 billion people. Do you think the Marxist vision for an international socialist revolution is possible with the technological advancements of today?

5. By focusing on the founding thinkers of Marxism, Le Blanc does not include more modern thinkers who are not from Europe. Most notably, he does not profile Fidel Castro from Cuba or Che Guevara from Argentina. Use this time to look into them and their conceptions of Marxism.

Further Reading

Despite Le Blanc covering an array of Marxist thinkers in his book, it is important to remain critical about the Marxists he chose to highlight. There is clearly a large demographic missing in his book, as he fails to include any BIPOC or contemporary Marxist thinkers. We encourage everyone to think critically about Marx and his counterparts and avoid idealizing any one of them. Many come with a host of problematic views of their own that need to be discussed alongside their theories. For more information on some issues with Marx, read this, this, or this. To begin diversifying your reading list, start with this.