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About this quote

What does it mean?
Luxemburg views class domination as historically necessary but equally views the working class uprising as a necessary historical counterforce.
In plain terms
She says that just as the ruling class is necessary, so is the working class fighting back.
What can you take from it?
History moves through necessary conflicts between opposing class forces.

Where it applies

  • theoretical analysis
  • historical materialism
  • political education

Putting it to work

  • explaining historical change
  • teaching class theory
  • analyzing power dynamics

Questions to consider

  • Is conflict necessary for social progress?
  • How do we understand historical inevitability?

Another view

Not all historical changes are strictly necessary or follow a predictable path.

More from Rosa Luxemburg

  1. The modern proletarian class doesn't carry out its struggle according to a plan set out in some book or theory; the modern workers' struggle is a part of histo…

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  2. The leadership has failed. Even so, the leadership can and must be recreated from the masses and out of the masses. The masses are the decisive element, they a…

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  3. What is our task in the question of peace? It does not consist merely in vigorously demonstrating at all times the love of peace of the Social Democrats; but f…

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