The Relevance of Marxism

Paper Summary:

In this article, the writer discusses that while orthodox Marxism prophesying the breakdown of capitalism and the advent of a classless society, as well as Marxist-Leninist Soviet foreign policy, became indeed obsolete as soon as the Cold War ended, in other areas Marxism continued to have a strong influence. In the second part of this analysis it is argued that Marxism remains after the end of the Cold War a major source of inspiration for alternative ways of thinking to the pre-dominant neoliberal consensus, especially in the development debate. In the third and last part it is further argued that Marxism is also of great value to the study of international relations in the area of nationalism.

From the Paper:

"Thus the critique Marx made of liberal economics in the nineteenth century is today of equal importance to the critics of the present neoliberal world order in the development debate and the anti-globalisation discourse. Certain revisionist countries in Latin America led by Venezuela for instance have in the last years found Marx a great source of inspiration if not for their true policy aims at least for a markedly anti-American rhetoric. Only recently the Italian government fell because two ideologically motivated communist senators voted against the expansion of an American military base."
"Traditionally, Marxism is criticised precisely for failing to provide a coherent account of international relations. In particular, he is said to lack a theoretical framework to understand armed conflicts. Yet the international is central to Marx's thought and it therefore remains crucial to the study of international relations. While Marx does recognise the importance of the state in international relations, unlike realist theorists he regards social class rather than the state as the fundamental actor in international relations."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Armijo, L. E., 'The Political Geography of World Financial Reform: Who Wants What and Why?' (2001) in Global Governance, 7, 379-396
• Benner, E., Really existing Nationalisms: A post-communist view from Marx and Engels (1995) Oxford: Clarendon Press
• Burnham, P. 'The Communist Manifesto as International Relations Theory' in Cowling, M., (ed.), The Communist Manifesto: New Interpretations (1998) Edinburgh: EUP
• Fernbach, D., The First International and After (1974) London: Penguin
• Fukuyama, F., The end of History and the Last Man (1992) London: Hamish Hamilton

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