: I've read through these threads with interest. Not being a Marxist myself, nor conversant with Marxism, I consider your exchanges and debates learning opportunity. However, I have a question: Do any of you truly believe that the United States (or your respective country) will convert to Marxism, either through revolution or some other means?
: It seems to me that Marxism -- as a viable practice -- is dead. It may make for interesting conversation, and is a stimulating theory to contemplate, but at the dawn of the 21st century, it seems as irrelevant as medieval feudalism.---
There are probably tens of thousands around the world busy studying Marxist thought. I hardly think they consider it "irrelevant". His "theories" can, and have been, interpreted as 1. Ideology, 2. Philosophy, and 3. Scientific methodology. They incorporate concepts of change, class struggle, and transformation, as well as humanistic values embodying freedom and self-actualization. He has left a legacy for many thinkers and scholars from many different fields, from art to the sciences of biology and anthropology. While "crude" or "vulgar" Marxism is out of favor, revisionists - from Fromm to Habermas keep it very much alive.
As long as a class of people may be defined in terms of exploitation, Marx's ideas will be around...for a long, long time.
Oh yeah-
Alta Vista lists the following number of sites for-
Karl Marx - 44766
Marxism - 48940
Adam Smith- 31888
Feudalism - 4439
