From Marx to Gramsci

Comprehension

Before engaging in critical analysis and applying Marxism as outlined by Le Blanc, we must first make sure we understand what he and the many Marxist thinkers are saying. Take the following questions and answer them in your own words.

When doing so, try to limit the number of sentences you use and aim to explain these concepts succinctly. To double-check your work, or if you are truly stuck, you may visit the summary sections that address the question.

1. What is Marxism?

   1. How do Marxists think about reality?

   2. How do Marxists think about history?

   3. How do Marxists view and analyze capitalism?

      1. How does the capitalist class make its money? 

      2. How does capitalism develop unevenly across countries?

   4. What is the working class? What is class consciousness?

2. What will it take for a socialist revolution to succeed?

   1. What is the role of trade unions?

   2. What is the role of the political party?

   3. What makes up a good strategy for a socialist revolution?

3. How has Marxism played out in the past and evolved?

   1. How did World War I and World War II influence the spread of Marxism? In what ways were the effects the wars had on Marxism similar and different?

   2. How does Le Blanc explain the presence of Stalin’s dictatorship? Of Mao’s?

4. Is revolution possible? What stands in the way?

   1. What is so difficult about attaining class consciousness?

   2. What is the bureaucratization of the working class and why does it hinder the Marxist movement?

   3. What is technological development and how does it affect the practice of Marxism?

   4. Can uneven development make socialism possible?

5. Summarize the following

   1. Marx and Engels’ contributions to Marxism.

   2. Luxemburg’s contributions to Marxism.

   3. Lenin’s contributions to Marxism.

   4. Trotsky’s contributions to Marxism.

   5. Gramsci’s contributions to Marxism.