Theory And Practice Of Marxism
- Social Sciences
- 300 level
- 3 credit units
- 165 pages
- 25 units
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.
About this course
- Difficulty
- Intermediate
- Study hours
- 32.5 hours
- Maths
- Basic
- Content
- Theoretical
- Practical work
- No
- Assignments
- Tutor Marked Assignments
- Final Examination
What you'll read
The real module and unit structure of POL315, taken from the course material NOUN publishes.
- UNIT 1: CAPITALIST ECONOMYPage 96
- MODULE 5 UNIT 2: MODE AND RELATIONS OF PRODUCTIONPage 101
- UNIT 3: MARX THEORIES OF VALUE, COMMODITISATION, REIFICATION, LABOUR POWER, USE AND EXCHANGE VALUE, SURPLUS-VALUE AND CAPITALIST PRIMITIVE ACCUMULATIONSPage 104
- UNIT 4: SOCIALISM IN THE 21ST CENTURYPage 111
- UNIT 5 AFRICAN SOCIALISM IN PERSPECTIVEPage 143
One paragraph, so you can see how it reads
POL315 · UNIT 1 MARXISM INTRODUCED
Marxism represents Karl Marx’s arguments about the system and mechanisms that guide the historical development of man and his society. In it, Marx demonstrated particularly the essential role of conflicts, otherwise known as dialectics, in the whole process.
What you should be able to do
- Explain the core principles of Marxism.
- Analyze the historical development of class struggle.
- Evaluate the concept of alienation in capitalist society.
- Apply Marxist theory to contemporary political and economic issues.
- Compare and contrast different interpretations of Marxism.
- Understand the concept of surplus value and its role in capitalist exploitation.
What it prepares you for
- Political Analyst
- Policy Advisor
- Social Researcher
- Activist
- Journalist
- Government
- Non-profit Organizations
- Research Institutions
- Media
- Political Campaigns
Where it gets hard
The units students slow down on, and what makes each one heavy.
- Module 5: Marxist Political Economy
Unit 3: Marx Theories of Value- Commoditisation, Reification, Labour Power, Use and Exchange Value, Surplus Value and Capitalist Primitive Accumulations
The unit requires understanding of abstract economic concepts and their interrelation, making it difficult to grasp the overall picture.
- Module 2: Karl Marx Dialectics
Unit 4: Law of Negation of Negation
The unit requires a strong grasp of abstract philosophical concepts and the ability to apply them to real-world situations.
A suggested way through it
13 weeks, about 26 hours in total. Yours will differ.
- Week 1Module 1: Sources and Components of Marxism
Unit 1: Marxism Introduced · 2 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 2Module 1: Sources and Components of Marxism
Unit 2: Hegelian Dialectics · 2 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 3Module 1: Sources and Components of Marxism
Unit 3: English Classical Political Economy · 2 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 4Module 1: Sources and Components of Marxism
Unit 4: French Utopian Socialism · 2 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 5Module 1: Sources and Components of Marxism
Unit 5: Philosophical Materialism and Philosophical Idealism: The Dichotomy · 2 hours
Examine the motivations for philosophical materialism and philosophical idealism. Explain the dichotomy between the two concepts. Understand the philosophical underpinnings of Marxism..
- Week 6Module 2: Karl Marx Dialectics
Unit 1: Karl Marx: A Brief Biography · 2 hours
Discuss the life and times of Karl Marx. Describe Karl Marx's personality and philosophical dispositions. Explain his ideology and major contributions..
- Week 7Module 2: Karl Marx Dialectics
Unit 2: Law of Transformation of Quantity to Quality · 2 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 8Module 2: Karl Marx Dialectics
Unit 3: Law of Unity and Conflict of Opposites · 2 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 9Module 2: Karl Marx Dialectics
Unit 4: Law of Negation of Negation · 2 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 10Module 2: Karl Marx Dialectics
Unit 5: Historical Materialism · 2 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 11Module 3: Marxism and the Meaning of Ideology
Unit 1: Alienation · 2 hours
Discuss alienation as a distortion of reality. Describe alienation as false consciousness. Explain alienation as a driver of the market economy..
- Week 12Module 3: Marxism and the Meaning of Ideology
Unit 2: Ideology and False Consciousness · 2 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 13Module 3: Marxism and the Meaning of Ideology
Unit 3: Base and Superstructure · 2 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..
Preparing for the exam
- Create a timeline of key events and figures in Marxist history (Units 1-2)
- Develop flashcards for key concepts like 'surplus value' and 'alienation' (Units 3-5)
- Practice applying Marxist analysis to current events (all modules)
- Review and compare different interpretations of Marxism (Module 4)
- Focus on understanding the relationships between economic base and superstructure (Module 3)
Questions students ask about this course
What is POL315 about?
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.
How many units does POL315 have?
POL315, Theory And Practice Of Marxism, has 25 units across 5 modules, over 165 pages of course material. You can read it one unit at a time.
How many credit units is POL315?
POL315 carries 3 credit units, at 300 level in Social Sciences.
Is POL315 hard?
POL315 is rated intermediate level, with basic mathematical content. It is mostly theoretical work.
How long does POL315 take to study?
About 32.5 hours of study, spread across its 25 units.
How is POL315 assessed?
POL315 is assessed by Assignments, Tutor Marked Assignments and Final Examination.
What can I do with POL315?
Political Analyst, Policy Advisor, Social Researcher, Activist and Journalist.