Random Thoughts on

Communism: Past
Present and Future

Dr. R. Madhavan,
School of Law.
Origins of Communism
Industrial Revolution in Great Britain

Displacement of Rural people to metropolis

Working conditions and Living conditions

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What Marx Saw

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 What Marx Saw
Long working hours – women and young
children toiling up to 18 hours a day, 6 days a
week

Appalling working conditions and living

conditions

London was dirty crowded and disease ridden 4

 What did Marx theorise?
Marx theorised about social change and what causes
change. Marx wanted to end exploitation and suffering

The history of all hitherto existing society is the history of

class struggles

Ancient Society – Slaves & Slave owners

Feudalism – Land owners and Landless peasants
Capitalism – Capitalists and wage labourers
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 Theory of class struggle
In capitalist societies, small number of capitalists exploit
and become rich at the expense of a large number of poor
workers

Governments and policies are dominated and influenced by

the rich

Ideas of the ruling class are always the ruling ideas

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 Communism is the solution?
Marx argued that contradictions between the
classes will end in a revolution and usher in a
communist society – a classless society where
individual property will be abolished

Each will work according to his/her ability and

each will get according to his/her need
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 Gap between theory and practice
Marx believed revolution would happen only in
advanced capitalist societies

However, later day Communist leaders induced

revolution in largely peasant & agrarian societies

Communist states became authoritarian and

illiberal
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 Communism in India – Response to
Colonialism
M. N. Roy – Father of Communism in India

Fight against colonialism should be carried out

by revolutionary nationalists and not Indian
National Congress

Did not support Quit India Movement

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 Indian Communism – A bundle of
contradictions
How should communist society be established?

Through Revolution?
Through Parliamentary Democracy?
Mobilising peasants, workers, tribals and lower
caste people?
What is the role of state?
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 Has communism failed?
As a political practice, communism has failed.

Classless stateless society is utopian as all

ideal models of society are

In the name of communism, states spread

terror and curtailed freedom
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 Globalisation and Communism
Emergence of Global capital outside the power
of state

Loss of sovereignty for national states

Global environmental and developmental crisis

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 Future of Communism – as a critical
school of thought
Has a role in critiquing state policy

As a mobilising tool for the poor and exploited

As a methodology to analyse society

As a check on corporate loot

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Thank you

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