Animal Farm: The Political Context (a.k.a. A Crash Course in Communism)

At First Glance… This book is about animals. Literally – it is set on a farm, animals can talk etc. Yet as with all good novels, it soon becomes apparent that this is a metaphor – in this case, for society as George Orwell saw it.

Mid - Late Nineteenth Century Britain Unrest and protest – Chartism (universal rights) Long hours, low pay Periodic unemployment No Welfare State No universal right to vote

Mid-Nineteenth Century Europe Revolution in France - 1848 Revolutions elsewhere in Europe, including Russia Times of Turmoil

A Bit About Marx… Born 1818 in Trier (d.1883) Jewish extraction Studied philosophy and economics in Berlin Earned his living (badly) as a journalist Wrote the Communist Manifesto containing his ideas on politics

Life revolves around money Marx’s insight: Life revolves around money $$$$$$$$$

Some have it…… They are called capitalists (or the bourgeoisie)

Others don’t ….. They are called the workers (or the proletariat)

Capitalists and workers don’t get on too well.

the maximum PROFIT – and the lowest costs (makes sense!) Capitalists want the maximum PROFIT – and the lowest costs (makes sense!)

Workers want the highest wage for the least work (makes sense!)

The Capitalists compete with each other, meaning the successful capitalists get richer and richer. The failed capitalists fall down into the working class. Do you think they’re ok with that?

The workers meanwhile are more and more exploited by the remaining capitalists – they get poorer and poorer

A new communist society will be created Marx said that eventually the workers will rise up in revolution against the capitalist class A new communist society will be created

What is making all this happen? The backstory What is making all this happen?

Marx had a theory: It’s because societies are always made from two parts: the economic base (production), and everything else.

In other words, the economy is the base for society. The economic base (production) shapes the Superstructure (culture, education, the state). In other words, the economy is the base for society.

The ruling ideas in any time are always those of the ruling class (usually the capitalists).

The working class may suffer from “false consciousness” – not understanding their true class position.

Marx was proved accurate, as in 1917 Russia was subject to a Communist Revolution. These were the key players in the Communist Movement

Joseph Stalin A Man of Action

Stalin Leader of the Soviet Union from the 1920s – 1953 (his death) Socialism in one country  by revolting, Russia alone could create the perfect socialist society without the need for international relations. Rule characterised by brutality under the guise of keeping order.

Leon Trotsky A Man of Great Ideas

Trotsky Marxist revolutionary Believed in a society where socialism functions under the bureaucracy formed by the working class. The idea that educated groups within the working class needed to be formed to guide society towards a pure Marxist society.