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Politics

Marxism, Socialism, and Communism

6 lessons

3.5h total length

Learn the ideas, history, and legacy of Marxism.

Cultural Marxism is destroying American society. It has led to the rise of racial tensions, radical feminism, transgender ideology, open borders, fiscal irresponsibility, the unequal protection of the laws, and the loss of our basic rights. 

The effects of Marx’s ideas have already been seen in the histories of the Soviet Union and China. Yet Marxism remains popular among those who shape our cultural, academic, and political lives and in the popular movements pushing equity and diversity. All human relationships are now defined in terms of the systemic oppression of one group by another. 

In “Marxism, Socialism, and Communism,” professors of history, politics, and economics look at Marx’s life and writings, the misery and brutality in the Soviet Union, the atrocities of communist China, and the proliferation of Cultural Marxism in America. They explore how many ideas animating American politics today are rooted in Marxism, and yet how they differ from Marx’s thought. By taking Marx, Lenin, Stalin, Mao, and the Frankfurt School seriously, we can see the injustice and evil inherent in all strands of Marxism. We also better understand the critiques of communism made by Mises, Hayek, and Solzhenitsyn. We are, therefore, better equipped to defeat it. 

The course includes six documentary episodes, each approximately 30 minutes long. Complete the course and receive a certificate by watching the lectures and taking the short quizzes that follow. These are supplemented with study guides and suggested readings for each lecture, and a discussion board where you can engage in conversations with other students. Take the course at your own pace and in a manner that best fits your schedule. 

Enroll today to understand why Marxism remains popular and how we can combat it in “Marxism, Socialism, and Communism.” 

Taught by: 

John W. Grant, Associate Professor of Politics 

Thomas H. Conner, Professor Emeritus of History

Thomas G. West, Paul Ermine Potter and Dawn Tibbetts Potter Professor in Politics

Ivan Pongracic, Jr., William E. Hibbs/Ludwig von Mises Professor of Economics

Sean McMeekin, Francis Flournoy Professor of European History and Culture at Bard College

Kevin Slack, Associate Professor of Politics

GENEROUS SPONSORSHIP PROVIDED BYthe T-L Irrigation Foundation, Hastings, Nebraska

Lessons in this course

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35:52

lesson 1

The Journalist: Marx

Marx made legitimate critiques of the profanity of the liberal societies he witnessed. But his communist vision denied human nature, misunderstood politics and economics, and encouraged worse profanities. In particular, Marx sought the destruction of private property, the abolition of the church and family, and accepted countless atrocities in the name of revolution.

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40:00

lesson 2

The Revolutionary: Lenin

Tsarist Russia was prospering and growing, but Nicholas II was weak-willed. He allowed himself to be badgered into entering World War I and into abdicating his reign after the February Revolution. The weak provisional government was easily overthrown by the Bolsheviks in the October Revolution despite the Bolsheviks’ lack of popular support. Lenin was a thorough Marxist who introduced extreme and brutal reforms. 

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38:05

lesson 3

The Dictator: Stalin

Stalin was a committed Marxist-Leninist. He revealed the extreme brutality inherent to Marxism. Stalin manipulated western nations into entering World War Two and emerged as the only clear victor. 

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31:15

lesson 4

The Critics: Solzhenitsyn, Mises, and Hayek

Solzhenitsyn captured the brutal degradation of the human spirit inherent in communism. Mises and Hayek demonstrated the flaws in its economic principles. 

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35:23

lesson 5

The Acolytes: Yugoslavia and China

Stalin spread communism throughout the Soviet satellite states in Eastern Europe and Asia. Tito’s Yugoslavia seemed to be a successful example of communism until his death. Mao was a faithful Marxist-Leninist. However, the contemporary Chinese Communist Party has adopted many capitalist policies to support their communist principles.  

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35:49

lesson 6

The Utopians: Cultural Marxism

Cultural Marxism focuses on Marx’s social critiques rather than his economic theories. Cultural Marxists claim that social structures cause the systemic oppression of minority groups. Their critiques center on race, sex, and gender, rather than economic class. Following the 2008 financial crisis, Marx’s economic theories returned to prominence and have combined with the cultural Marxist theories to animate many American political and cultural movements. 

Watch the course trailer

Enroll now!

What Current Students Are Saying

Takes the student through the full context of the course subject matter. Wonderful insight into how we strayed and its consequences and offers a solution.

— Don from Nevada

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