When someone thinks about Marxism they most likely think about the Soviet Union during

the Cold War. Due to that it seems obvious to believe that a Marxist thinking could have been
disappeared after the ending of the Cold War. But in contrast to that, new interpretations and
differentiations have emerged and Marxist theories of international relations have become
essential theory thinking in the International Relations. On the one hand this can be explained
by the new concept Marxist thinkers have gained to talk about their ideas justifying the
reallife example of Marxism in form of the Soviet Union in some ways (Hobden, S &
Jones,W. 2005: 144)
One the other hand and this is very important for the International Relations, the growing
international inequalities demand an analytical explanation further on. Data’s from 2018
show that the richest 1.8% of the population owns 86.4% of the world’s wealth (Global
Inequality 2018). To highlight the global social order is the big strength and the big
difference of Marxist theories to other theories of the International Relations. With his focus
on global capitalism Marx has opened a very broad and complex field of analysis. He himself
didn’t give much theoretical and analytical framework, but opened the way to many
interpretations and continuations. As a result a variety of schools of thoughts have emerged
over the time. This focus on world-system theory, Gramscianism , critical theory and New
Marxism, Marxist theories of international relations“ by Stephen Hobden and Richard Wyn
Jones, out of the book „The globalization of world politics: an introduction to world politics“.
In wider and deep analytical examination of Marxist theory of international relation it was
intricate positioning itself under countable and important elements that clearly witnesses the
kind of relationship that exist in world politics.
Even though the different strands of the Marxist thoughts differ a lot, they mostly agree at the
following basic understandings.
The assumption that the social world should be understood as a totality and that analytical
differentiation of a society in sections like history or politics is unnecessary and not helpful,
since one can never be fully understand without the other. Therefore Marxist thinkers argue
that the contemporary division of social sciences should be dissolved (Hobden, S & Jones,
W.145).
Understanding the materialist conception of history. Marxists see the central dynamic in the
tension between the means of production and the relations of production and they claim that
the process of historical change is a reflection of the economic development. This happens by
a change in the means of production, for example because of an advancement of technology.
Because of this change the relations of production become outdated and hinder the most
effective utilization. Ultimately a social change occurs through a change in the relations of
power. In this logic the economic base is the motor of history and leads to broader
transformations. Institution and practices of a society reflect and reinforce the pattern of
power and control in the economy. Eventually changes in the base lead to changes in the
superstructure (Hobden, S & Jones, W: 145.).
They focus on the class and the assumption that a society is prone to class conflicts. In
capitalist societies the main conflict remains between the bourgeoisie (capitalists) and the
proletariat (workers). Here another big difference occurs in contrast to the other theories:
Marxism is not only used for the sole understanding of class struggles, but should be used to
make the overcome of the current order easier. The system shall be replaced with a
communist society where there is no wage labour and no private income but a transformation
of social relations (Hobden, S & Jones, W: 146f.).
According to Marxist perception there are different argument explaining world relation
order, the most prominent is the world system theory. The original of world system theory
can be traced back at first systematic attempt to apply idea of Karl max to the international
sphere, first was to critique of imperialist advanced by number of thinkers.
The most and prominent work to emerge from this debate was from pamphlet produced
by Vladimir Lenin named imperialism the highest stage of capitalism , Lenin accepted most
basic thesis of Carl Marx and his friend Fredrich Engels ideas toward world social order but
acquire that the character of capitalism has changed , he argued that capitalism has entered
new stage which is monopoly capitalism and under monopoly capitalism two tie structure had
developed within world economy , with the dominant core exploiting the less developed
periphery. Lenin has shown that with the development of dominant core which is reverse to
less developing countries, there is no harmony of interest among bourgeoisie and proletariat
as proposed by liberalist explanation of world economy. Vladimir Lenin(1870-1924) view
were developed by Latin American dependant school the writer of which developed the
notion of which conveyed periphery of greater depth Raul Prebisch argued that countries in
periphery were suffering as a result of what he called the declining term of trade. He notified
that manufactured goods increased more rapidly than that of raw materials as the result of
their over reliance on the production of raw materials or primary good thus contributed
countries from periphery group remain poor relative to the core.
World system theory came to be developed more by Immanuel Wallenstein in a broader
sense, for Wallenstein history has been marked by the rise and demise of a series of world
systems. The driving force behind this seemingly relentless process of expansion and
incorporation has been capitalism. within the context of this system all the institution of
social world are continuing being created and re-created in term of geography of modern
world system. In addition to core and periphery Immanuel Wallenstein added an intermediate
semi- periphery class, semi- periphery class has intermediate role within world system,
displaying some features or characteristics of the core and other characteristics of the
periphery. Because of it hybrid nature, semi periphery plays an important economic and
political role within the modern world system, in particular it provides a good source of
labour to the core countries where there is higher pressure of labours wagers and also provide
a new home of industrial investment especially those which has not acquired much
profitability in the core countries.
According to world system theorist the three zone of world economy are linked together in
an exploitative relationship in which wealth is drained away from periphery to the semi-
periphery and core in a sequence. The relative position of the zones become severe more
deeply the rich become richer while the poor become poorer.
Marxist theory of international relation had developed and spread to Western Europe from
Eastern Europe where there were more developed political societies. Vladimir Lenin
(18701924and Karl Marx was a motive to Italian Marxist to introduce gramscianism theory
international politics and relation.
Gramscianism was developed by Italian Marxist named as Antonio Gramsci 1891-1937,
he work become particular important and influential in the study of international politics as
he was able to build legacy and his work was later expanded by Canadian scholar Robert
Cox. Antonio Gramsci (1891-1937) one of the founder of Marxist communist party, his
political activities increased fear to Italian government of that time; he was jailed since 1926
and spent the rest of his life in jail. Gramsci, ideas was much from his remarkable prison note
book follows the failure to produce at least a single integrated academic book. All troubles to
Gramsci’s activities raise a key question and it’s proven to be so difficult to promote
revolution in the Western Europe. Marx after all had predicted that revolution and transition
to socialism would occur first in most developed societies. Antonio Gramsci (1891-1937)
was much concentrate toward the idea of hegemony.
For Antonio Gramsci (1891-1937) idea of hegemony was not only, leadership or dominance,
especially by one social group over others rather It was reflection and conceptualization of
power, moreover he seemly to develop idea of Niccole Machiavelli (1469-1527) views that
power ‘’is a centaur half beast, half man’’ mixture of consent and coercive as main
concentration of hegemonic practices of world politics and relation. he was able to determine
coercive practices and capability of state as this coercive or fear continue to keep this
exploited group and their majority from their rising while they continue exploited and fail to
rise up to overthrowing the system that they were cause of suffering, in another side of coin
he identifies concern as it is created and re-created by hegemony of ruling class in the
society, it’s this hegemony allows the moral political and cultural values of dominant group
to become dominant to become more dispersed throughout society and being accepted by
subordinates groups and class of their own which took place through institution and civil
societies, media , educational system , churches and voluntary organizations .Antonio
Gramsci (1891-1937) prison notebooks contain very powerful message that clearly examine
the hegemonic nature that exist in our society and at world at large was able to rise Canadian
scholar named Robert Cox (1926-2018).
Robert Cox (1926-2018) as introduced earlier was Canadian scholar of political science
international relation theorists, develop and get impressed Gramsci idea of hegemony their
fore he develop ideas of Gramsci approaches that involve critical of preventing theories of
international relation and international political economy thus contribute to the development
of alternative for the analysis of world politics, Cox ideas was derived from one among of his
seminar paper named as “Social forces state and world order”. Robert Cox (1926-2018) often
produced most often quoted line that has acquire greater meaning to the contemporary
international theory, he quoted “theory is always for someone and for some purposes”, it
seemly as something with meaningless but to him toward is obvious connected with idea thus
if idea and values are ultimately of a particular set of social reflections and are transformed as
those relation themselves .he also argue that all knowledge of social science must reflect a
certain context , certain time , a certain space Cox argue against realism and new realism he
observe this theories are for –or serve the interest of those who prosper under the prevailing
order that is inhabitant of developed state and in particular the ruling class elites. The
encounter of social domination under realism and new realism prosper him toward
development of new theory named as problem solving theory to act upon different kind of
inequalities social economic and political world system.
Problem solving theory is a critical theory which attempt to challenge the prevailing order by
seeking analysing and if possible assisting social processes that can be potential led to
emancipation change, Cox act upon Gramsci idea of hegemony and transposes it to
international realm, arguing that hegemony is important on maintaining stability and
continuity here as it in domestic level. According to him successive dominant power in the
international system have shaped world order that suit their interest and does so not only as
the result of their coercive capability the increasing ruling hegemonic ideas of free trade
propounded by great Britain and her friend U.S.A, but despite of dominant world order Cox
does not expect it to remain unchanged rather he maintain Marxist view that capitalism is
inherently unstable system by encounter of inevitable economic crises. Robert Cox
(19262018) prosper rise of new Gramsci’s writing under Mark Rupert, as far as Gramsci is
concern they observe more expansive of hegemony as time goes and area of raw materials
concern the nature of free trade where third world countries engage in free trade and un usual
result is that they become more reliant on the export of raw materials as a result of law
technology and their finished product cant inter in world market to compete with other
product from Europe and U.S.A. European decrease price of raw material to cut of
developing country economy also they increase privatization and many investors from north
America in telecommunication and companies bargain prices.
Critical theory was the one which was rose from Frankfurt school of Western Europe
which includes extraordinary talented group of thinkers which was started to work with each
other in between 1920-1930s. It comes to existence as a result of failure of Marxist ideas
which was forced attempted various revolutionary apprising and the rise of fascism. The
theory was developed out of work of Frankfurt school in which they came with a new vision
about the international relation, they rise up with extra ideas apart from political and
economic as discussed much by Marxism theory of international relation. They traced much
to explain other aspect of life such international society, international security and
international ethics. First generation of Frankfurt School involve Max Horkheimer , Theodor
Ordorno and Herbert Marcuse, a sequence generation had taken up the views of this thinkers
and developed in it important and innovative ways. Critical as many theory it also had
different features thus made possible to study’ international ethics and international security.
Intellectual concern are rather different from Those of most other Marxist, they had not
being much interested in further development of analysis of international economic base of
society they have instead developed and concentrated on questioning relating to cultural
bureaucracy the social basic and nature of authoritarianism , the structure of this families and
explaining such nature and concept as reason and rationality as well as theories of
knowledge , they also critical theory had been highly dubious as to whether proletariat in the
contemporary society does in fact embody potential about potential emancipation
transformation the way that Marx had believed . rather with the rise of much culture and the
increasing commoditisation of social life , Frankfurt school had argued that the working had
simply being absorbed by the system and no longer represent a threat to its. This situation is
to use Marcus famous phrase “is one dimensional society to which the vast majority simply
cannot conserve an alternative. Critical theories made one of their most important
contribution through their explanation of the meaning of term emancipation in which human
being reconciled with nature. Further more Critical theory had come with important
suggestion toward studying international relation that instead of focussing in economic and
political motives in international relation they explain about other aspect of life as many as
culture and social aspect without leaving behind woman and their role in international
relation and international society.
Another theoretical idea that come as development of Marxist theory of international relation
is new Marxism or neo Marxist, the development on new Marxism was owe its corner stone
from Marx writings ,however they regard neglected and criticised further development within
Marxist and mark their own original theoretical understand of contemporary trends, the
theory includes people and important theorist such as Justin Rosenberg capitalist and global
social relation theories and Benno and Jeschke a social property relational, according to
Justine Rosenberg international relation is autonomous and it is a border pattern of social
relation , that is interaction as relation is biased in the social relation and among international
societies including relation among states. Benno Jeschke (2003)he was able to provide not
only critiques but also through the concept of social property , he analyses changes in the
constitution an practices of international relation system he argue that social relation provide
Important starting point in analyses of international relation, social property relation examine
the ways which class relation of exploitation and control of means of production had
changed in different historical epochs ,he argued that “the property relation among internal
class relation is a determinant of social changes and approach is applicable to all geopolitical
order(B. jeschkle: 2003). Theories examine relay on Marx idea but they tries to go beyond to
look on existing situation by examine global relation in aspect of social relation and property
relation sources.
International relation and globalization; obvious term globalization means the process
whereby social transaction of all kind increasingly took place without account for nation or
state boundaries , with the result that world has become one borderless ,social sphere, the
particular trend pointed to us typifying globalization include the growing integration to
national economies , social government and intergovernmental agencies operating on global
scale also a communication revolution which contribution to the development of global
consciousness.
According to Marxist theorist the world has long been dominated by a single interpreted
economic and political entity a world economic economy system which has gradual
incorporated all humanities within its grasp, within this system all element have always been
interrelated and inter dependent. For Marxist theorist there is danger of adopting an ascetical
attitude to globalization is that it can be blind us to the way in which reference to
globalization is increase become part of ideology anarchy of elites within contemporary
world.
There are various criticism of the international relation theory of Marxism ,one of the often
cited critique of international relation theory of Marxism is that it has great attention to
economics ,according to (weight,1960) he argued that Marxism was too pre occupied with
human economic life compared to other aspect .for many within the field relation between
countries are made under more than economic life compare to other aspect , by only focusing
on domestic and international economy one is rising the role of political, diplomacy among
many other issues . for critique this theory is too simplicity to this it tries to tie all of the other
world issues and actors motivations on economic interests .so while Marxist theory of
international relation focuses in economic it continue to be challenged to dismiss other social
issue in the world affairs.
Marxist has been criticised due to his prediction. Marxist argue that the world will reach the
highest stage ,where there will be no exploitation no more classes and world will in classless
society .he continue by arguing that this will be attained when socialism will reach it highest
stage which is communism. Under communist will in state of equilibrium no classes. , no
exploitation and everyone will enjoy world cake, this prediction has taken a lot of time to
reach that stage while capitalism continue to glorifies its strength and no any sign of it to fall.
Habermas, argue that historical materialism had failed to provide a rebuts philosophical
defence of its vision of universal emancipation, Marx and Engels has highly understood the
tension between bourgeoisie and proletariat, bourgeoisie commitment to freedom and actual
social realities and they argued that within socialism human freedom would be realized .but
they did make a philosophical case for the philosophical conception of freedom. Moreover
Marxist of the first part of 20c had no ethical response to the distinctive socialistic ideal of
Soviet Union and no moral critique of the totalitarian rule in West Germany. Habermas,
conception of learning in the sphere of interaction was linked with the argument that society
has developed more complex means of assessing the world of social and political institution
Marxist theory has been relevant to today’s social life. It have shown the world economic
relation that is taking place. The world economic relation is in an exploitative way as it have
been proposed by Marxist writers. The giant nations like united republic of America, Britain
Canada and France are exploiting the less developed countries like Tanzania, Kenya, Somalia
and Ecuador. The capitalist nations are busy maximizing the profit while exploiting the poor.
Marxist theory has acknowledged the role of class struggle in attaining the better end. This is
relevant to today’s society, people are busy struggling for the better end, street vendors are
busy selling their goods in street with the aim of attaining the better end, civil servant are
busy working harder for the aim of attaining the better end.
Generally, Marxist was dominant theory of international relation under vision of critical
theory until recently , one that contribute analytical of the long term toward the globalization
of the social relations with a political economy of the revolutionary impact of industrial
capitalism and vision of universal emancipation , no previous approach to political and
history had operate under ambitious scale . That conception of social inquiry no counterpart
within the study of international relations where recurrent critics has been raised that
historical materialism shed little or no light on the state nationalism and was on diplomacy on
the balance of power and international law few have recognized that Marxist writing set out
the vision of the whole of human history of the rise and development of industrial capitalism
of its internal crisis and several struggle that may lead to the new form of social organization
in short a vision of what the social science s should aspire for that remain standard setting to
the day.

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