AN ANALYSIS OF MARXIST

MOVEMENTS, AND IDEOLOGIES

IN THE CURRENT PHILIPPINE
POLITICAL LANDSCAPE
Juan Antonio S.A. Villamejor
Introduction

■ The concept of Marxism hasn’t been the most reputable political movement of this era.
This is mostly due to the fact that works of Karl Marx has tended to be the basis of
poorly designed economies, and regrettable governments. Yet Marx’s works are still
seen with some merit, which they technically do have. Marx being a very critical man
when it comes to Capitalist based societies, and his works can offer us insight on our
shortcoming when comes to the way we run thing. This paper hopes to see what kind of
movement Marx’s works inspired, and see just how viable they are in today’s politics.
Statement of the Problem

■ “Why do some people consider Marxism, and how viable are Marxist concepts in
today’s Political Landscape?”
■ The purpose of my paper is to show any possible merit found in the works and teachings
of the Marxist ideology.
■ This hopefully provides a better understand as to why, and how Marxism as political
movement generally works, and is seen with viability.
Objectives

1. To analyse the concept of Marxism

2. To identify the Marxist parties present throughout the history of the Philippines

3. To compare the ideologies of the Philippine Marxist parties with those of the original
concept of Marxism

4. To obtain a better understanding of the Motives of Marxist movements.

RRL : History of Marxism

■ Marxism is a capitalist political theory/philosophy, created by Karl Marx and Friedrich

Engels which believes class struggle is a central element in the study of social change in
Western societies.
■ Soviet Marxism, a prominent Marxist Communist movement, was created by Vladimir
Ilich Lenin and, to an extent Joseph Stalin, and eventually became known as the doctrine
for the communist parties seen at the end of the Russian Revolution in 1917.
■ Other Communist parties have incorporated Marxism over the years. Such as Mao
Zedong whose interpretation became the doctrine doctrine for the Communist Party of
China.
RRL : The practice of Marxism in the
Philippines
■ Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP)
■ Bagong Alyansang Makabayan
■ Partido Obrero de Filipinas
■ Partido Komunista ng Pilipinas of 1930
■ Malayang Pagkakaisa ng Kabataang Pilipino
RRL : Viability of Marxism

■ It’s most positive and desirable aspect is the emphasis on equality, and substantial
communal growth of the society.
■ It’s most negative aspect is the fact that it seems practically impossible to create a
system that ultimately stays true to its ideology.
Significance of the Study

■ Most Marxist parties have not been the most successful, and the ones that are plague
with an extremist, and more often than not violent nature. However the point of this
paper is not to identify the quality of these organizations , rather it is meant it identify
how viable they are, and why people see them as feasible. Due to the violent nature of
these organizations, it is important to know why some people would join such groups.
Through understanding the problem we could better fix it. Weather that means the
elimination, succession, or cohabitation of such groups is open to interpretation. Simply
a better understanding is what this paper hopes for.
Conclusion

■ The overall focus of this paper is to better understand the Marxist political movements
that occupy here in the Philippines. Despite the negative, and violent nature most
Marxist systems tend to have, we have the possibility of benefitting from Karl Marx, and
Friedrich Engels. While maybe not as a new form of government but rather a way to
address the flaws prominent in our current political society.
 Bibliography
■ (n.d.). http://www.themontrealreview.com/2009/Phases-of-Marxism.php
■ 10 Marxism Strengths and Weaknesses. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://flowpsychology.com/10-marxism-strengths-and-weaknesses/
■ A. (2014, December 31). Karl Marx. Retrieved August 4, 2018, from https://www.theschooloflife.com/thebookoflife/the-great-philosophers-karl-
marx/
■ Amadeo, K. (n.d.). 5 Differences Between Communism and Capitalism. Retrieved from https://www.thebalance.com/communism-characteristics-
pros-cons-examples-3305589
■ Apecsecadmin. (2015, July 02). Retrieved from https://apecsec.org/pros-and-cons-of-marxism/
■ Bagong Alyansang Makabayan. (2011, August 06). Retrieved from https://anakbayanuplb.wordpress.com/anakbayan-southern-tagalog/bagong-
alyansang-makabayan/
■ Blunden, A. (n.d.). Marxism. Retrieved from https://www.marxists.org/reference/subject/philosophy/help/marxism.htm
■ Britannica, T. E. (2018, May 01). New People's Army. Retrieved from https://www.britannica.com/topic/New-Peoples-Army#ref164039
■ Cassman, D. (n.d.). Communist Party of the Philippines–New People's Army. Retrieved from http://web.stanford.edu/group/mappingmilitants/cgi-
bin/groups/view/149?highlight=ASG
■ History of Philippines Communist Party. (1985, November 26). Retrieved from https://www.csmonitor.com/1985/1126/ofilbox.html
■ Marx, K., & Engels, F. (1948). The Communist manifesto. New York: International.
■ Marx, K., & Engels, F. (n.d.). Address of the Central Committee to the Communist League. Retrieved from
https://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1847/communist-league/1850-ad1.htm
■ Marx, K. (1976). Capital. London: New Park Publications.
■ Marx, Karl. "Capital: a critique of political economy, trans. Ben Fowkes." Intro. ernest Mandel 1 (1976).
■ Marx and the Idea of Commodity. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://scholarblogs.emory.edu/postcolonialstudies/2014/06/21/marx-and-the-idea-of-
commodity/
 Bibliography
■ McLellan, D. T., & Chambre, H. (2018, October 03). Marxism. Retrieved from https://www.britannica.com/topic/Marxism

■ Misachi, J. (2017, November 07). What is Maoism? Retrieved from https://www.worldatlas.com/what-is-maoism.html

■ Norman, D. (n.d.). II: Communist Society According to Marx. Retrieved from https://www.marxists.org/archive/norman/marx-reality/ch02.htm

■ Perspectives for the Philippine Revolution. (1987, April 08). Retrieved from https://www.marxist.com/perspectives-philippine-
revolution080487.htm

■ S. (2013, July 11). A Reflection on Karl Marx's Conflict Theory and the Philippine Governance. Retrieved August 4, 2018, from
https://saligsigsocio.wordpress.com/2013/07/05/a-reflection-on-karl-marxs-conflict-theory-and-the-philippine-governance/

■ Schram, S. R. (2018, September 05). Mao Zedong. Retrieved from https://www.britannica.com/biography/Mao-Zedong

■ STINUS-CABUGON, M. (2017, December 04). The relevance of the Communist Party of the Philippines. Retrieved from
https://www.manilatimes.net/relevance-communist-party-philippines/366524/

■ Tangi, L. (2015). People’s War, People’s Press: History and Evolution of Ang Bayan (The People), the News Organ of the Communist Party of the
Philippines (CPP). Plaride, 12(1). Retrieved August 4, 2018, from http://www.plarideljournal.org

■ The Philippines Free Press Online. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://philippinesfreepress.wordpress.com/tag/malayang-pagkakaisa-ng-kabataang-

pilipino/