Final answer:
Marxism is a theory focusing on class struggles and the overthrow of capitalism in favor of a socialist state that leads to a classless society. Marxism-Leninism, the Soviet adaptation, emphasizes vanguardism and democratic centralism, leading to an authoritarian state despite Marxist ideals of a classless society.
Step-by-step explanation:
Describe Marxism and Marxism-Leninism
Marxism is a social, political, and economic theory originated by Karl Marx, which focuses on the struggle between capitalists (bourgeoisie) and the working class (proletariat). Marx believed that the conflict between these classes would ultimately lead to the overthrow of capitalism and the establishment of a socialist state where the means of production are owned by the public. The end goal of Marxism is a classless society in which wealth and power are distributed equitably.
Marxism-Leninism, on the other hand, is a specific adaptation of Marxism developed by Vladimir Lenin, which served as the guiding philosophy for the Soviet Union. Lenin introduced the concept of vanguardism, where a small, dedicated group of the intellectual elite guide the larger masses of workers towards the revolution, rather than the spontaneous uprising predicted by Marx. Additionally, Leninism uses democratic centralism, a form of political organization where decisions are made democratically but must be strictly adhered to by all members. This was to ensure unity and effectiveness in achieving the goals of the proletariat, but in practice, it often led to a centralized, authoritarian control.
While Marxist ideology aspires to a classless and stateless society, the application of Marxism-Leninism in the Soviet Union resulted in a paradoxical model of governance that experienced stagnation and wielded significant military power, presenting a contrast with the Marxist utopia it claimed to be transitioning towards.