By Raymond Matthews
As more millennials enter the workforce, there’s been a largescale rejection of capitalism and a movement toward Marxist ideology, says Andrew Hartman, a history professor at Illinois State University.
Hartman specializes in U.S. political history, and he is currently working on his third book, Karl Marx in America. He recently visited UC Santa Barbara to discuss his theories of how Marxist ideology has shaped American history, and how said ideology relates to modern American politics. His presentation was sponsored by the history department.
“Many modern historians who study Marxism are saying that his ideas, as they relate to modern America, are eerily relevant. Especially among the younger population,” Hartman said.
Hartman believes that there have been four Marxist “booms” in American politics that have been caused by economic downturns and financial angst among the working class.
“The first one happened in the gilded age of industrialism, the second one occured in the 1930s during the economic angst of the Great Depression. The third boom struck during the 1960s, and right now I think that we’re in the midst of the fourth wave,” he said.
Hartman says that this new interest in Marxist ideas is behind many political trends, including popular support for politicians with socialist leanings such as Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren, particularly among young voters. He believes that Marxism is most appealing to millennials, the majority of whom reject capitalism.
“I think that we’re in this fourth Marxist boom because his [Marx’s] ideas are increasingly speaking to a generation that’s come of age in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis,” Hartman said.
Marxism’s newfound popularity with millenials comes from a lack of job prospects, an 8.8% unemployment rate, and higher education costs than any other American generation has faced, says Hartman.
“If we’re living in a fourth Marxist boom, which I like to think we are, it’s occurring because a lot of people, particularly millennials, are highly aware of their precarious position in the labor market.”
While Marxist ideas may be popular now, Hartman says that doesn’t mean it will lead to significant economic changes in the United States.
“We’ve had Marxist booms in this country in the past and even though Marxism can gain a lot of traction in certain economic climates, this doesn’t guarantee any substantial economic reforms,” he said. “In American politics it’s difficult to challenge capitalist structures in industries like healthcare, education, and things like that.” Still, he said he’s “optimistic” that this fourth Marxist boom may bring about “some meaningful economic reforms.”
Raymond Matthews is a third year Political Science major at UC Santa Barbara. He is a Web and Social Media Intern for the Division of Humanities and Fine Arts.