In terms of the way that I view global problems I would say I am mostly a Marxist with a bit of social constructivism thrown in, since it often gets along with other IR theories. I believe that transnational class systems are the most influential aspect of our lives and governments. Deep down, humans aren’t that different from each other across national borders and neither are our governments. They all are influenced to various degrees by global capitalism and the bourgeoisie that inevitably grow richer at the expense of everyday people. Another reason I favor Marxism is that while it is not a popular government ideology, it explains the broader societal and political picture of the world today. Perhaps even the fact that it isn’t a popular strategy among governments and politicians says a lot about its truth. The social constructivist side of me comes out to recognize that human behavior is not predictable and cannot be explained by a completely rational or predictable system. As someone who has seen a lot of the world (and not just countries that are similar to the US), I realize that human cultures and ideas are hugely diverse and powerful. Often they play a very large role in the decisions people make, even the people in charge of the world.
I agree with your statement that although Marxism isn’t a popular government ideology, it is still a great critique of our modern economic system. Late stage capitalism has led us into an age where the rich become richer, the poor become poorer, and those with wealth exploit those without it in order to profit off their labor. Although I myself argued something different in my post, I definitely do agree with your argument.
Hi Evdokia! Can you think of ways that Marxism can help us develop solutions to problems, or is the theory mostly useful for diagnosing what’s wrong? Great post!