CARIBBEAN STUDIES

INTELLECTUAL TRADITIONS

MARXISM
PRESENTED BY DESMOND, JASON & AALIYAH
 WHAT IS MARXISM?
TRIVIA

1. Who is the originator of Marxism?

2. What was his nationality?

 WHAT IS MARXISM?

Marxism is a social, political and economic

philosophy that examines the effect of
capitalism on labor, productivity and economic
development.

(Developed by Karl Marx and, to a lesser extent,

by Friedrich Engels in the mid-19th century.)
 TRIVIA
WHO IS WHO?
 TRIVIA
WHO IS WHO?

MARX ENGELS
 WHAT IS MARXISM?

“Society does not

consist of individuals,
RICH
but expresses the sum
of interrelations, the MIDDLE
CLASS
relations within which
these individuals
stand.” POOR

— Karl Marx, 1858

 WHAT IS MARXISM?

Marxism posits that:

● The struggle between social classes (the bourgeoisie

and the workers) defines the development of the state

● The bourgeoisie seek to gain control of the factors of

production from the "masses."

● Only by eliminating the control of the economy from

private ownership will the economy continue to grow.
 OBJECTIVES OF MARXISM?

1. Abolish classes in whatever form they exist

2. Attain equality among all groups of people

3. Stop the exploitation of the working class

4. Give free education to all

 IMPACT OF MARXISM

Various Caribbean leaders were influenced by

the Marxist ideology and sought to implement
policies that would create an equal and just
society.

These leaders include:

● Fidel Castro
● Michael Manley
● Maurice Bishop
 TRIVIA
MATCH THE LEADER TO THE COUNTRY

LEADER COUNTRY

Fidel Castro Jamaica

Michael Manley Grenada

Maurice Bishop Cuba

 TRIVIA
MATCH THE LEADER TO THE COUNTRY

LEADER COUNTRY

Fidel Castro Jamaica

Michael Manley Grenada

Maurice Bishop Cuba

FIDEL CASTRO

● Prime Minister of Cuba from

1959-1976

● President of Cuba from

1976-2008

● Established the first communist

state in the Western
Hemisphere
 FIDEL CASTRO

● Provided free healthcare and education.

● Illiteracy has been eradicated, and life expectancy is fairly

high, despite a hindered economy. (It is ranked 52 out of 177
countries on the UN’s human development index)

● Travel, economic, and financial embargo from nations such

as the US, due to Cuba’s stance, has greatly hindered the
economic development of the country.

● Heavy reliance on the now dissolved Soviet Union, has

hindered its ability to spur sustained growth, causing the
economy to become greatly stagnated.
MICHAEL MANLEY

● Prime Minister of Jamaica

from 1972-1980 and 1989-1992

● Committed to social justice

and equality [DEMOCRATIC
SOCIALISM]
 MICHAEL MANLEY

● Attempted to implement overarching social reform in order

to rectify the great inequality of Jamaica.

● He attempted to nationalize various industries in order to

better the empowerment of the populace, thus furthering
human development.

● His efforts to revolutionize the health and education sectors

can be seen in the example of JAMAL (Jamaica Movement
for the Advancement of Literacy) which sought to alleviate
Jamaica’s high illiteracy rate in the 1970’s.
 MICHAEL MANLEY

● Due to his policies, many business owners migrated their

businesses abroad in order to avoid the “impending
communist revolution”, greatly hampering the economic
development of the country.

● His policies drew the ire of the American government,

leading to their interference in destabilizing both the
country’s political and social setting, hindering the human
development of the populace via decreased safety.

● US displeasure also negatively influenced the economic

development of the country (directly and through tourism)
MAURICE BISHOP

● Prime Minister of Grenada

from 1979-1983

● The leader of New Jewel

Movement – popular efforts
in socio-economic
development, education &
Black liberation
 MAURICE BISHOP

● Bishop installed a revolutionary government that went to

work organizing workers’ councils and creating a very
participatory government.

● Bishop ran into criticism by the United States whose

president attempted to stir opposition to his leadership.

● One of the chief efforts of Maurice was the construction of

an airplane runway in order to further tourism for the nation.

● Today the Maurice Bishop International Airport stands. A

symbol for Grenada’s struggle against isolationism forced
upon the by the US.
FIN