An Introduction to Marxism and Socialist Politics

Facilitators: Dan DiMaggio and Brian Schmidt
Email: dan.dimaggio@gmail.com and brian.schmidt24@gmail.com
Location and Time for Class: Thursdays, 6:30 pm
Coffman Memorial Union #202 (WSAC Office), U of M Campus East Bank
Reading for October 2: The Communist Manifesto by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels
Course description:
This course will provide an introduction to socialism and the Marxist analysis of history. In weekly or biweekly meetings, we will read and discuss classic works of Marxism and seek to discuss the relevance of these ideas to current world events, as well as situating these texts within their historical contexts.
While many have sought to dismiss socialism and Marxism as outdated, the growing polarization of wealth, brutal wars, environmental devastation, and global instability that have accompanied the current wave of corporate globalization have forced many in the corporate media to acknowledge that Marx's analysis – that capitalism leads to war and inequality – may have been right. A 2005 BBC poll even selected Marx as "the greatest philosopher of all time."
In addition to reading classic statements by Marx and Engels on socialism, we will read works relating to Marxism as a political movement by revolutionary socialists V. I. Lenin, Rosa Luxemburg, and Leon Trotsky. We will examine Marxist critiques of capitalism and the state, the materialist view of history, Marxist philosophy, the relationship of Marxism to the workers' movement, the formation of Marxist political parties, Marxist theories of revolution, and more (depending on what course participants want to study). This course assumes no prior knowledge and is intended for anyone who would like an introduction to Marxism.
Class Time and Location:
We will be meeting once a week or every other week (to be determined once we find out participants) at a location yet to be determined. Most of the texts for this course can be found online or can be purchased cheaply.