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September 12, 2026Short & citedBlog
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Civic Brief • Philosophy

Karl Marx

Karl Marx was a German philosopher, economist, historian, political theorist, journalist, and revolutionary socialist.

Updated September 12, 20261 min readCited sources

Karl Marx was a German philosopher, economist, and revolutionary socialist best known for co-authoring *The Communist Manifesto* and writing *Das Kapital*. His ideas, collectively called Marxism, analyze society through class struggle and critique capitalism.

What it is

Marx developed historical materialism, a theory that interprets history through material conditions and class conflict. He argued that capitalism contains internal contradictions that drive social change, and that the working class would eventually overthrow it.

Key details

Born in Trier, Prussia on 5 May 1818, Marx lived in Paris, Brussels, and London. His major works include *The Communist Manifesto* (1848, with Friedrich Engels) and *Das Kapital*. He died in London on 14 March 1883.

Why it matters

Marx's writings strongly influenced socialist, communist, and broader political theory. In Canada, his ideas shaped labour movements, socialist parties, and academic studies of politics, economics, and social inequality.

In short

  • Marx co-authored *The Communist Manifesto* and wrote *Das Kapital*.
  • His theory of historical materialism focuses on class struggle.
  • Marxism influenced Canadian labour and socialist movements.
  • He was born in 1818 and died in 1883.
Canadian angle

Marx's ideas influenced Canadian labour movements, socialist parties, and academic studies of politics, economics, and social inequality.

Quick questions

Who was Karl Marx?
Karl Marx was a German philosopher, economist, historian, and political theorist best known for founding Marxist social and political theory.
What did Karl Marx believe?
Marx believed that history is driven by class struggle and that capitalism would be replaced by a classless communist society led by the working class.
What is Marxism?
Marxism is the body of social, political, and economic ideas developed from Marx's works, especially his analysis of class conflict, capitalism, and historical change.

Sources

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karl_Marx
    Supports: Birth and death dates; occupations; major works; Marxism; historical materialism.
  2. Encyclopaedia Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/biography/Karl-Marx
    Supports: Biography, birth and death places, major works, and Marxism.
  3. BBC History — https://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/marx_karl.shtml
    Supports: Birth, death, and legacy as a revolutionary thinker.
  4. Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy — https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/marx/
    Supports: Historical materialism, class struggle, and Marx's social and political philosophy.