Early 2025 ,

COMMUNISM AND KARL MARX

This course explores the theory and practice of communism and the life and writings of Karl Marx. It is commonly assumed that the historical failures of communism are due to the theory not being implemented correctly or not implemented fully. As we read the theory of communism in the writings of Karl Marx and then compare this with the Soviet experience, we will assess whether or not this claim has any merit. We will also examine the life of Karl Marx in order to better understand the man behind the political theory that has left almost no part of the world untouched. What is the connection between Marx’s personal life and psychology and his philosophical writings?

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Emily Finley

THIS COURSE HAS CONCLUDED. THE FOLLOWING LESSONS ARE PRE-RECORDED VIDEOS FROM THE EARLY SPRING OF 2025.

As we turn to communism in practice through a look at the rise of the Soviet Union, we will pay special attention to one aspect of communism that is often neglected, namely the fall of the old order. To make room for communism—which is a total system—the old ways had to be eradicated completely. The violent overthrow of the Romanov dynasty and the Russian nobility set the tone for Bolshevik rule in Russia and her satellite states. What did the fall of old Russia entail? What happened to these ‘former people’? And what are the implications for communism in particular and revolution in general when the new political system calls for the complete dismantling of the old system? Finally, we will assess the legacy of communism. How do its ideals persist even to this day, and in what unexpected (or expected) ways? Karl Marx’s theory of economic determinism has more or less lost credibility, but are there similar theories that amount to the same thing? We will also consider the idea of “cultural Marxism” and its manifestations.

Readings will come from the following, which, except for The Communist Manifesto, I will upload under “documents” on the website.

Karl Marx, The Communist Manifesto

R. N. Carnew Hunt, The Theory and Practice of Communism: An Introduction (1951)

Saul K. Padover, Karl Marx: An Intimate Biography

Robert Payne, Marx: A Biography

Paul Kengor, The Devil and Karl Marx

Richard Wurmbrand, Marx and Satan

Douglas Smith, Former People: The Final Days of the Russian Aristocracy

Alexander N. Yakovlev, A Century of Violence in Soviet Russia

R. J. Rummel, Death by Government

Robin DiAngelo, White Fragility

Ibram X. Kendi, How to be an Antiracist

Part I: Communism in Theory

The theory of communism
1. The Communist Manifesto by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, ed. By L.M. Findlay (other editions are fine, but the one I will be referring to can be found here.)
2. For those who are new to the ideas of Marx and communism, please see my short introductory chapter on communism (for a draft of a textbook). I break down, outline, and define the major ideas of Marx’s complex theory. Please do not share this.
Marxist theory, cont.
1. R. N. Carnew Hunt, “The Marxist Theory of the State and of Revolution,” in The Theory and Practice of Communism: An Introduction (1951), pp.64-74.
Who was Karl Marx?
1. Marx, the poet: Saul K. Padover, Karl Marx: An Intimate Biography, Part V “Sturm und Drang,” pp. 82-112.
2. Marx and some like-minded revolutionaries form The Communist League: Robert Payne, Marx: A Biography, “The League of the Just” pp. 117-138.
Who was Karl Marx?, cont.
1. Marx and the diabolical: Paul Kengor, Preface and “The Specter” in The Devil and Karl Marx, pp. xv-29.
2. Richard Wurmbrand, “Marx, Darwin, and Revolution,” in Marx and Satan, pp. 83-100.

Part II: Communism in Practice

The Old Regime, Delenda Est
1. The end of an era: Douglas Smith, Former People: The Final Days of the Russian Aristocracy, Part II: 1917, ch. 5 “The Fall of the Romanovs,” pp. 69-91
2. Smith, “A Country of Mutinous Slaves,” 92-109.
Fall of the Old Regime, Cont.
1. Smith, Former People, ch. 7, “The Bolshevik Coup,” 110 and ch. 8. “Expropriating the Expropriators,” pp. 129-140.
Crushing the Peasantry
1. Alexander N. Yakovlev, A Century of Violence in Soviet Russia, Foreword by Paul Hollander, vii-xvi and “Peasants,” 83-102.
2. R. J. Rummel, Death by Government, ch. 4 “61,911,000 Murdered: The Soviet Gulag State,” pp. 79-87.
Race in modern Marxist theory
1. Robin DiAngelo, White Fragility, selections
2. Ibram X. Kendi, How to be an Antiracist, selections