Political theory, explained simply

Short study cards for students and debaters: what each idea means, how it works, the strongest objections, and points you can actually use in an argument.

• What is Marxism?

  History is driven by class conflict, and capitalism will be replaced by collective ownership.

• What is Capitalism?

  Private owners compete in markets, and prices coordinate what gets produced.

• What is Socialism?

  Key resources are owned or controlled collectively so their benefits are shared broadly.

• What is Fascism?

  An authoritarian, ultranationalist system that fuses state and nation and crushes opposition.

• What is Liberalism?

  Individual rights and limited, accountable government come before collective or state claims.

• The Communist Manifesto — Summary

  Marx and Engels' 1848 text compressed into one card.