Reflective Writing and Poetic Musing by Condemiang + Stories About the World

Summary Karl Marx was born into a wealthy Jewish family, and his comrade Engels also came from affluence. Their theory of communism arose as a critique of capitalism’s exploitative structure. However, no country has faithfully realized the ideals of communism; even after revolutions, power often shifted to a new elite that continued to oppress the masses. Whether in capitalism or communism, sustaining the ruling class inevitably involves exploiting either other nations or one’s own people. Today, even in so-called advanced nations, the majority of citizens suffer under relative poverty and systemic inequality. Political systems are riddled with division and deception. What we need is not another revolution, but the ability to hold political abusers accountable and elect leaders who genuinely share the people’s realities and values. Marx’s  Das Kapital  is notoriously difficult to understand and has failed to serve as an accessible guide for the working class. Instead of being ...

Anarchism was mistranslated as “no-government-ism” in some countries lacking cultural literacy, and people unthinkingly adopted that term. But in truth, the original meaning is much closer to “anti-authoritarianism” or “anti-power-ism.” Once you understand Robert Michels’ “iron law of oligarchy” and take a hard look at history, it becomes clear why one might choose to be an anti-powerist. Personally, I believe Jesus was a quintessential anarchist—he rejected all forms of authority and power except that of Yahweh.