Marxism, Anarchism, Imperialism, and the Great War: A Historical Overview
Item 4: Marxism and Anarchism
Marxism
The main representatives of Marxism were Marx and Engels. Their analysis of the past focused on the relationship of production, including the relationships between master and slave, and capitalist and worker (oppressor and oppressed). Marx and Engels formulated the basis of scientific socialism, explained in the Communist Manifesto, published in 1848.
Key Principles of Marxism:
- Historical Materialism: History is defined by stages of production, each with its own mode of production (e.g., primitive communism, slavery, feudalism, capitalism). The class struggle between oppressors and oppressed drives historical change.
- Critique of Capitalism: Capitalism is an unfair system.
- Revolution and Communism: Workers will develop class consciousness, form political parties, and gain political power. A dictatorship of the proletariat will pave the way for a communist society without private ownership or social classes.
Anarchism
Anarchism rejects all forms of authority, including the state and industrialization. It envisions a world of small, self-governing agricultural communities.
Key Principles of Anarchism (Bakunin):
- Individual Freedom: Total freedom for all individuals, including women.
- Importance of Education: Education is crucial for individual development and social progress.
- Spontaneous Revolution: The revolution will be spontaneous, not guided by political parties, and will arise from the grassroots.
- Decentralized Society: Society will be organized into small, self-managing cells that can freely federate or separate.
Item 5: Imperialism
Industrialization led to the division of the world into industrialized European powers (e.g., France, Germany) and emerging industrial powers (e.g., USA, Japan). From 1870, industrialized countries expanded into Asia and Africa, a process known as colonialism or imperialism.
Economic Interpretations of Imperialism:
- New Markets: Economic crises and protectionist tariffs forced companies to seek new markets for their products.
- Resources: Colonies provided raw materials and energy sources (e.g., cotton, iron, coal).
- Investment Opportunities: Investors sought profitable investment opportunities outside of Europe.
The Distribution of Africa:
By 1914, Africa was largely divided among European powers, with only Liberia and Abyssinia remaining independent. The scramble for Africa began in the 1870s, driven by exploration, missionary activity, and economic interests.
British Project: To connect North and South Africa by rail (Cairo to Cape Town) and control the East African coast and Indian Ocean trade. Britain acquired territories rich in minerals (e.g., diamonds, gold) and strategic locations (e.g., Suez Canal).
French Project: To control a strip of territory from east to west, from Algeria across North Africa (Morocco and Tunisia) to Sudan. This led to conflicts with Britain.
Other European Powers: Belgium, under Leopold II, explored and claimed the Congo. Germany also established colonies in Central Africa. These actions resulted in conflicts between European powers.
Item 6: The Great War (Crisis of July 1914)
On June 28, 1914, Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary was assassinated in Sarajevo by a Bosnian Serb student. Austria-Hungary saw this as a provocation by Serbia and declared war. The alliance system quickly drew other European powers into the conflict.
- Russia: An ally of Serbia, declared war on Austria-Hungary.