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POL315Social Sciences3 Unitsintermediate

Theory And Practice Of Marxism

This course examines the fundamentals of Marxism, exploring its origins and the dynamics of conflict in society. It provides a comprehensive understanding of Marxism as a political and social theory rooted in economic class struggle. The course delves into key concepts such as Mode of Production, Relations of Production, Theories of Value, and Capitalist Primitive Accumulations. It also examines the philosophical basis for the rise and decline of communism.

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32.5h
Study Time
13
Weeks
3h
Per Week
basic
Math Level
Course Keywords
MarxismSocialismCommunismDialecticsPolitical Economy

Course Overview

Everything you need to know about this course

Course Difficulty

Intermediate Level
Builds on foundational knowledge
65%
intermediate
➕
Math Level
Basic Math
📖
Learning Type
Theoretical Focus

Course Topics

Key areas covered in this course

1

Dialectical Materialism

2

Historical Materialism

3

Class Struggle

4

Alienation

5

Surplus Value

6

Proletarian Revolution

Total Topics6 topics

Ready to Start

No specific requirements needed

This course is designed to be accessible to all students. You can start immediately without any prior knowledge or specific preparation.

Assessment Methods

How your progress will be evaluated (3 methods)

Assignments

Comprehensive evaluation of course material understanding

Written Assessment

Tutor-Marked Assignments

Comprehensive evaluation of course material understanding

Written Assessment

Final Examination

Comprehensive evaluation of course material understanding

Written Assessment

Career Opportunities

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Political Analyst

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Policy Advisor

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Social Researcher

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Activist

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Journalist

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Industry Applications

Real-world sectors where you can apply your knowledge

GovernmentNon-profit OrganizationsResearch InstitutionsMediaPolitical Campaigns

Study Schedule Beta

A structured 13-week journey through the course content

Week
1

Module 1: Sources and Components of Marxism

2h

Unit 1: Marxism Introduced

2 study hours
  • •Read the introduction to Marxism and its key concepts
  • •Identify the rudiments of Marxism
  • •Discuss the foundation for Marxism as a School of Thought.
Week
2

Module 1: Sources and Components of Marxism

2h

Unit 2: Hegelian Dialectics

2 study hours
  • •Outline the basic arguments of Hegelian Dialectics
  • •Show the nexus between Hegelian Dialectics and Marxism.
  • •Understand Hegel's influence on Marx's thinking.
Week
3

Module 1: Sources and Components of Marxism

2h

Unit 3: English Classical Political Economy

2 study hours
  • •Explain the English classical political economy
  • •State its relevance to the development of Marxism
  • •Compare and contrast classical economics with Marx's views.
Week
4

Module 1: Sources and Components of Marxism

2h

Unit 4: French Utopian Socialism

2 study hours
  • •Trace the root of the French Revolution
  • •Examine the impact of the French socialism on Marxism
  • •Analyze the influence of revolutionary thought on Marx.
Week
5

Module 1: Sources and Components of Marxism

2h

Unit 5: Philosophical Materialism and Philosophical Idealism: The Dichotomy

2 study hours
  • •Examine the motivations for philosophical materialism and philosophical idealism
  • •Explain the dichotomy between the two concepts
  • •Understand the philosophical underpinnings of Marxism.
Week
6

Module 2: Karl Marx Dialectics

2h

Unit 1: Karl Marx: A Brief Biography

2 study hours
  • •Discuss the life and times of Karl Marx
  • •Describe Karl Marx's personality and philosophical dispositions
  • •Explain his ideology and major contributions.
Week
7

Module 2: Karl Marx Dialectics

2h

Unit 2: Law of Transformation of Quantity to Quality

2 study hours
  • •Explain dialectics (Hegelian and Marxian)
  • •Discuss transition from quantity to quality as the basis of change
  • •Apply the law of transformation to societal changes.
Week
8

Module 2: Karl Marx Dialectics

2h

Unit 3: Law of Unity and Conflict of Opposites

2 study hours
  • •Examine the claim that everything in life and nature is binary
  • •Discuss the assertion that conflict is the essence of being and is inevitable
  • •Explain the claim that conflict produces change in nature and society.
Week
9

Module 2: Karl Marx Dialectics

2h

Unit 4: Law of Negation of Negation

2 study hours
  • •Discuss how negation of negation engenders a dynamic process
  • •Explain how negation of negation is the heart and soul of progress both in nature and society
  • •Illustrate how negation of negation ensures continuity.
Week
10

Module 2: Karl Marx Dialectics

2h

Unit 5: Historical Materialism

2 study hours
  • •Describe epoch or era; Marx's six epochs of human history
  • •Discuss class as the essence of change in any epoch
  • •Explain dialectics (class struggle) as the motion of history.
Week
11

Module 3: Marxism and the Meaning of Ideology

2h

Unit 1: Alienation

2 study hours
  • •Discuss alienation as a distortion of reality
  • •Describe alienation as false consciousness
  • •Explain alienation as a driver of the market economy.
Week
12

Module 3: Marxism and the Meaning of Ideology

2h

Unit 2: Ideology and False Consciousness

2 study hours
  • •Explain how ideology can be applied as a set of ideas which are accepted to be true by a particular group
  • •Discuss how ideology can be applied as the science of ideas
  • •Understand the role of ideology in shaping society.
Week
13

Module 3: Marxism and the Meaning of Ideology

2h

Unit 3: Base and Superstructure

2 study hours
  • •Explain how societies are stratified
  • •Analyze the claim that the power of the ruling class comes from their ownership and control of the means of production
  • •Understand the relationship between base and superstructure.

This study schedule is in beta and may not be accurate. Please use it as a guide and consult the course outline for the most accurate information.

Course PDF Material

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Study Tips & Exam Preparation

Expert tips to help you succeed in this course

1

Create a timeline of key events and figures in Marxist history (Units 1-2)

2

Develop flashcards for key concepts like 'surplus value' and 'alienation' (Units 3-5)

3

Practice applying Marxist analysis to current events (all modules)

4

Review and compare different interpretations of Marxism (Module 4)

5

Focus on understanding the relationships between economic base and superstructure (Module 3)

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