Authoritarianisation and the Role of Ideological Apparatuses

Elif Çağlı, 30 November 2015

Marxism explained that the basic determining factor of a mode of production is, in the last analysis, the economic base. With this achievement the need and importance of studying productive forces and production relations that constitute the base in order to understand the traits of different modes of production came to light. Every single mode of production, or in other words, every single socio-economic formation, is consisted of the unity of the economic base and ideological superstructure rising above the economic base, which encompasses diverse realms such as state, politics, law,...

published on 22 January 2016

The Rights and Wrongs

Elif Çağlı, 27 May 2015

No one can bring back the past on correct foundations with mistakes deleted out. But at least it is possible to draw lessons from past experiences to advance the struggle today. Proletarian struggle demands the honest revolutionary Marxist take an attitude in this direction, face their mistakes, renew themselves through drawing a revolutionary balance sheet and leap forward in order to build the new by arming themselves with the revolutionary lessons of historical experiences. It should be kept in mind that in the present world where objective conditions are fully ripe for the world working...

published on 23 September 2015

Crises of Capitalism and Revolutionary Situation

Elif Çağlı, 2 November 2003

Despite all its ups and downs, capitalist system displayed a general economic dynamism during the period between the end of the Second World War and the beginning of the 21st century. Following deep crises and the two big world wars which had cost lives of millions, this period of dynamism gave rise to a...

published on 10 May 2015

Revolutionary Marxism: Organised Unity of Theory and Practice

Elif Çağlı, 4 November 2014

The tendency to fabricate theories, which has nothing to do with revolutionary Marxism, can be characterised as a passion for theoricism that is alien to revolutionary struggle of the working class. The theories produced by some writers, who owe their fame to “Marxist” studies in academic circles, can generally be counted within this framework. As the theory remains unchecked, disconnected from the light and discipline of revolutionary class struggle, it becomes nothing more than confusing variations.

published on 31 December 2014

Democracy and Plutocracy

Elif Çağlı, 28 June 2014

The struggle to be waged by the working class and the toiling masses for their democratic rights in capitalist society is of crucial importance and cannot be neglected. But beyond this minimum goal of struggle, those who want the emancipation of humanity and a real democracy in today’s world, must desire and fight for the revolution that will overthrow capitalism. Nothing but the rule of the revolutionary working class and the workers’ democracy can lead workers and toilers to a prosperous and happy future!

published on 9 September 2014

On Reformism

Elif Çağlı, 3 January 2006

The political mentality called reformism has debilitated the workers’ movement all over the world and in every period; therefore it has been a subject of deep discussions among Marxist ranks. Beginning with the founders of Marxism, Lenin and other revolutionary leaders analysed the political meaning, social roots and destructive effects of reformism.

published on 9 August 2014

On the Question of Imperialism

Elif Çağlı, 25 May 2014

It has been long since first debates among Marxists over the question of imperialism took place at the beginning of twentieth century. But traces of different tendencies and some misconceptions that emerged in these debates can be felt even today despite the fact that so many events and important transformations took place in the meantime. For instance, a great majority of colonial countries that set the background for the debates on colonialism and national independence gained their national independence and established their own nation-states. However, no ideological and political clarity...

published on 29 May 2014

Anatomy of the Petty-Bourgeois

Elif Çağlı, 25 November 2006

The leaders of Marxism emphasized that the emancipation of opressed and poor people is not a matter of an intelligence work but a matter of a historical struggle. For communists, the central issue is to change the world in a revolutionary way, rather than limiting themselves to interpretation of the current circumstances. The history of the world has already proved that such change can only be achieved by the revolutionary organisation and actions of the working class. In fact, successing a self-change by defeating one’s own weaknesses depends on the same conditions for all who want to join...

published on 12 May 2014

Spirit of the Age, “Zeitgeist”

Elif Çağlı, 4 March 2014

The origins of the widely-used concept, “spirit of the age” go back to the German word “zeitgeist” which appeared in Hegel’s philosophical writings. The concept simply refers to a state of mind, feelings and mentality which characterize a particular period of time. Hegel took the period covering late 18th century and early 19th century as a new transition period and wrote that the distinctive characteristic of this era was essentially the “zeitgeist” initiated by the French Revolution of 1789. The Zeitgeist in those historical episodes pointed out by Hegel implies a transitional state of...

published on 28 April 2014

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