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Marx was actually in favor of free trade: But, in general, the protective system of our day is conservative, while the free trade system is destructive. It bre
by xxpor 8y ago
Marx was actually in favor of free trade:
But, in general, the protective system of our day is conservative, while the free trade system is destructive. It breaks up old nationalities and pushes the antagonism of the proletariat and the bourgeoisie to the extreme point. In a word, the free trade system hastens the social revolution. It is in this revolutionary sense alone, gentlemen, that I vote in favor of free trade. - Karl Marx, On the Question of Free Trade (1848)
- seanmcdirmid 8y agoI don’t think that disproves my point. You can be socialist and free trade or socialist and protectionist, without needing too much cognitive dissonance. Socialism greatly precedes Marx of course, whose contribution to it we typically call communism.
- briandear 8y agoSo in Marx’s view, free trade is actually a bad thing. He is for it just like someone might vote for termites if their objective is to destroy a building so they could have power over how it’s rebuilt and who gets to live in it. Good for him, bad for the building and the people currently living in it.