What Is Marxism?

by Emile Burns

Tanınmış İngiliz Marksistlerinden Emile Burns'ün bu eseri ilk olarak 1939 yılında yayınlanmış, onlarca yıl boyunca yapılan yeni basımlarıyla dünyanın çeşitli ülkelerinde işçilerin ve öğrencilerin Marksist dünya görüşünü öğrenmelerinde başlıca kaynak olmuştur. Toplumsal gelişmenin yasaları, kapitalist toplum, emperyalizm, sınıf mücadeleleri ve devlet, sosyalist toplum, tarihin Marksist yorumu gibi bölümlerden oluşan eser, Marksizmin yoğun, anlaşılır ama sığ olmayan bir özetidir.

Genres: Nonfiction, Politics

Paperback

First published January 1, 1939

Reviews

[Martin Hare Michno · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wish someone had shoved this into my face sooner.

[Derin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Marksizm hakkında hiçbir bilgisi olmayan birinin bile rahatlıkla anlayabileceği açık, anlaşılır, sığ olmayan bir kitaptı. Çok faydalandım.

[Paul Haseloop · Rating 1 out of 5]

Een boek uit 1939 waarin het Marxisme wordt beschreven. Naast de theoretische onderbouwing (die niet slecht is) is het vooral een lofzang op de Soviet-Unie, hoe goed de mensen het daar hebben en hoe briljant Lenin en Stalin zijn. Al met al dus niet de allerbeste bron om meer over socialisme te leren.

[Waqar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Serves as an excellent entry point for those interested in Marxist theory.

[Vivek KuRa · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very concise primer before reading the heavy works of Marx, Engels and Lenin. A very small portion of the argument in this book is outdated, yet alarmingly most of Marx's predictions are strongly relevant to the still ongoing class struggle in the modern society.

Emile Burns has provided easy to understand explains on important topics like Laws of social development , The Imperialist stage of Capitalism and Class struggles in Modern Times with the help of Marx& Engels and then contemporary examples.

I read the beautifully translated Tamil version by Prof.V.Ponnuraj.

[İremini · Rating 5 out of 5]

Başlarken fazla kavram olacak ve sözlük kullanmak zorunda kalacağım,diye korkmuştum ama inanılmaz anlaşılır bir kitaptı. Marksizm ile ilgili hiç bir bilgisi olmayanlar için iyi bir kitaptı.

[Graham Knight · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is probably the simplest explanation of Marxism I’ve read. However, there’s only so far you can simplify something and some sections did require slow and repeated reading. As someone already familiar with Marxism I felt this book deepened my knowledge and understanding. What was particularly useful were real life examples to demonstrate theoretical points. The section on why pacifism was an idealist rather than materialist concept was particularly useful in understanding some current issues. Although the book is clearly dated, what’s significant is how relevant this still is and I would recommend this.

[Glaive Perry · Rating 5 out of 5]

As tempted as I am to just say "it's a banger," I think it's worth echoing what others have said about it being, per-page, one of the most effective intros to many basic and intermediate Marxist concepts. It is THE book to read or recommend if you find yourself or your friends asking the question in its title!

[Chiv · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful book for persons looking to start learning about Marxism. It's so clear and concise. I had no problem understanding.

[Ana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great intro to marxism using simple terms and clear language. Will def pass it on to nieces and nephews.

[ea · Rating 5 out of 5]

"What is Marxism?" by Emile Burns, albeit written in the 1930s and therefore dated, is a great introduction to Marxism, the ideology that is ever so growing in the face of widespread economic crises, social inequality, and global wars.

The book was written in a concise and accessible manner, and for that it has effectively served me in three ways. First, it had solidified the prior knowledge I had on topics such as historical and dialectical materialism, which were also discussed in Basic Principles of Marxism-Leninism: A Primer.

The book was also able to give me new information which sometimes debunked the myths and errors that were long sitting in my brain. Before, I thought of socialism as an unrealistic economic system because critics of it would viciously put forward claims that a socialist revolution would immediately grant equal pay to every workers (which was injustice, as they say). In fact, that is not the case, and Burns here put forward an explanation on why inequality can well exist beyond capitalism.

Lastly, through the last chapter, I was able to understand further the framework behind the decisions of the national democratic movement in my country regarding their alliance with a liberal-bourgeoisie candidate. The circumstances are different in every place and time, so accelerationist advances would therefore not be effective in the advancement of the working class. It is therefore important to apply a careful analysis with the general principle: "does this help or hinder the working-class advance at this particular stage, in these particular circumstances?"
I still have a long way to go before I could fully understand the political and economic theories of Marxism, but this truly was a delightful read that motivated me to learn more about the alternative systems to capitalism.

[Nozipho · Rating 5 out of 5]

10/10 book. Literally the most perfect introduction and summary of what Marxism is about. I enjoyed it mostly for how easy it was to read and understand as some of these political/economic books can be very difficult to read and understand. It addresses a lot of the different misconceptions about what socialism/communism and even capitalism is that exists in society. Fantastic, accessible, beginner friendly.

[Alex Herder · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is one of those classics you're supposed to read to understand Marxism and wow was it almost unreadable. I came away with a slightly better understanding of historical materialism and a weird reinforcement of the inevitability of a post-scarcity Star Trek future.

[Underling]

Great intro to the Marxist outlook! I especially enjoyed the chapter on socialist society and the clearing-up of the so-called 'principle' of participation in bourgeois electoralism in the final chapter.

[Kaan · Rating 3 out of 5]

faydalı ama en iyi giriş kitapları arasına alır mıyım bilmiyorum.

[Mohamed El sayed · Rating 4 out of 5]

كتاب نموذجي كتقديم للماركسية

[Nenad Knezevic · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very concise and to the point; a good introduction to Marxism, albeit dated.

[Atram Buddhewad · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book provides the simple understanding of Marxism. Concepts and ideas regarding Marxism are discussed in simple terms.

[Ana Valerio]

mui bona llectura, esplicaciones per clares, pero lu voi relleer nun futuro nun mui lexano (esta vegada en castellán)

[Babis Kokovidis · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best introduction about Marxism out there! It shows in a simple but still scientific way the principles of this way of seeing the world.

[Saif Sayed · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the best guides to understand Marxism for someone new to it.

[qamar⋆｡°✩ · Rating 4 out of 5]

a very concise introduction that really helped cement my understanding of some of the more basic concepts of marxism before moving on to the readings of marx and engels

[Mankmon · Rating 4 out of 5]

വ്യക്തതയോടെ ആദ്യമായി മർക്‌സിലേക്ക് കടക്കാൻ ശ്രമിക്കുന്നവർക്ക് വായിക്കാൻ പറ്റിയ പുസ്തകം

[İlkcan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Giriş için iyi bir kitap, bayağı basit, açıklayıcı bir detaylılıkla anlatıyor. Aradan çıkarayım dedim şu giriş kitaplarını ancak üst üste okumaya başlayınca sıkılmaya başladım.

[Faruk Bigez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Giriş için en iyi kaynak

[Ж Ж Ж Ж Ж · Rating 4 out of 5]

The most concise material about Marxism at my disposal. Probably not the best book on the subject.

[Ashu Thakur · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best book to start when you are not familiar with the term. The book provide the basic insight of the Marxism.

[Dineshsanth S · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very good book for beginners.If you're not familiar with the terms used by Tamil Marxist Writers then you better read the English version of this book.