Karl Marx

Following the Cold War, the many nations of the world were divided into three categories: first world, second world, and third world. The first world nations were those considered to be capitalist nations. Such nations included the USA, Canada, Australia, etc. Second world nations were those considered to be communist nations including the USSR, Poland, East Germany, etc. All countries that did not fall in the first two categories were considered third world countries. Today these terms are understood a little differently than they were originally intended. First world is often referred to as developed, second world is referred to as developing, and third world has come to mean undeveloped. What is essentially being said here is that a capitalist economy is what every nation should strive for.Karl Marx would be appalled at the very notion of nations striving to become capitalist nations. Throughout his extensive studies of classical economists, such as David Ricardo and Thomas Malthus, Marx compiled a series of notes that today make up one of his many published works, Economic and Philosophical Manuscripts of 1844. In these notes, Marx explains his Theory of Alienation. This theory is a large part of why Marx was convinced that capitalism would not sustain the test of time and eventually all nations would succumb to communism.

Marx believed that capitalism created what he called alienation. Alienation is essentially the separation of people from their human nature. The major form of alienation, as described by Marx, is through the process of labor. He explained that in a capital nation, people that work for industries lose their freedom. They become slaves to the bourgeoisie that overlook them and hold authority over them.