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About this quote

What does it mean?
The author says communist authorities use Marxist language and methods to justify any wrongdoing.
In plain terms
Communist regimes misuse Marxist rhetoric to justify misconduct.
What can you take from it?
Marxist terminology can be exploited to excuse bad actions.

Where it applies

  • political discourse
  • media analysis

Putting it to work

  • exposing rhetorical abuse
  • teaching critical language analysis

Questions to consider

  • When does ideological language become propaganda?
  • How can we detect misuse?

Another view

Marxist language can also be used for genuine critique and reform.

More from Aleksandr Zinovyev

  1. The firmest proof that Marxism is not science but an ideology is Marxism's attitude to the experience of the real communist (or socialist) societies.

    Permalink to quote #7
  2. Historically, Marxism was born with the ambition of explaining everything in the world scientifically. It is known, that Marx even dealt with mathematics. Alth…

    Permalink to quote #9
  3. None of the Marxist concepts (literally - not a single one!) matches the logical rules of scientific concepts.

    Permalink to quote #6

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