"Capitalism in a stagnant state, unable to adapt and progress."

The criticism and vilification of Marx, Marxism, and its principles of liberation on a daily basis is nothing new. Throughout history, all ideologies that strive for social, cultural, political, and economic change have faced similar obstacles. Despite relentless propaganda against Marxist practices, it remains a guiding moral compass, a beacon of political optimism, a source of cultural rejuvenation, an economic alternative, and a tool for resistance against the dominant narratives of the capitalist system.

Capitalism presents itself as the only viable option, parading its supposed dynamism and adaptability. But in reality, it is a stagnant system that hinders progress in all aspects of society. It is a deceptive construct, designed by the ruling class in cahoots with all elements of society that thrive on exploitation, to promote their profit-driven agenda at the expense of humanity and the environment.

Under the guise of promoting bourgeois freedom and democracy, capitalism destroys the very foundation of life and the collective fabric of society. Throughout its existence, capitalism has been marked by relentless pursuit of profit, inherent crises, stagflation, and a culture of mass manipulation, consumption, and propaganda. Its survival depends on maintaining hegemonic political, economic, and cultural systems, often relying on the brutality of dictators, authoritarian governments, and imperial military dominance.

The capitalist project, devoid of any philosophical foundation, perpetuates the illusion of individual freedom through the American dream. In reality, it mortgages the liberty and well-being of individuals to debt, poverty, and dictatorship. There is no past, present, or future of capitalism that upholds liberal or democratic values.

In order to sustain itself and expand its control, capitalism forms alliances with the most regressive forces around the world, at the expense of the people and their basic needs. Any progressive transformation of society, culture, politics, and economy is seen as a threat to the capitalist system. It has the ability to adapt to reactionary and authoritarian systems and policies, but it cannot coexist with truly radical and emancipatory ideals and individuals.

Hence, whenever capitalism fails to incorporate progressive beliefs, it resorts to demonizing them in various forms. The vilification of Marxism is a result of capitalist propaganda, aimed at preventing its natural dissemination and understanding, even as a body of knowledge. Rewriting history, altering curricula, and banning certain teachings are all tactics used by the capitalist ruling class to suppress any ideas or ideals of liberation.

Instead, capitalism promotes a culture of compliance in education, socialization, laws, and judiciary systems to serve the interests of the ruling elite. Capitalism shares the same stagnant nature as religion and its reactionary practices, which use fear of divine punishment to control people in the name of culture and tradition. Similarly, capitalism uses laws, rules, and regulations to instill fear of police and prisons, interventions, and wars in order to domesticate its citizens.

In contrast, Marxism aims for the emancipation of all individuals from the shackles of alienation, exploitation, and inequality. It offers a humanistic alternative to the barbarism of capitalism. The parasitic nature of capitalism thrives on exploitation and inequality, normalizing these conditions as natural.

The inhumane idol of the capitalist market promotes a culture of consumerism, separate from the organic relationship between producers and consumers. It not only sells frozen food, but also frozen policies, processes, institutions, and systems, which are all geared towards perpetuating its profit-driven agenda. In contrast, revolutionary forces, throughout history, have always been dynamic, while capitalist classes remain stagnant, constantly destroying the collective foundations of society in pursuit of individual autonomy, which ultimately leads to enslavement.

The living dialectics of Marxism, its principles of emancipation, and its radical consciousness derived from everyday experiences, make it a dynamic force. In contrast, capitalism is a frozen system that continues to find primitive and brutal ways to accumulate wealth at the expense of people and the planet. Capitalism's imperialist wars, from Iran to Venezuela and from Afghanistan to Algeria, all serve to secure its interests.

The pursuit of profit is its sole ideology and driving force. To ensure this objective, capitalism enforces its agenda through brute force, either by changing societies and cultures through politics and compliant education systems, or through military means. It creates crises to facilitate its primitive accumulation processes and ensure the success of capitalist domestication.

Dialectical materialism is not a deterministic view of history, but a dynamic approach to understanding the conflicts, contradictions, and crises within the capitalist system. Marxism is a living flame that has the power to melt the frozen construct of capitalism, empower individuals, and sustain the planet for future generations. It offers hope to the masses, providing a means to challenge and change capitalism, and establish a society free from exploitation and inequality.

Marxism is a tool of struggle for the emancipation of all individuals from the shackles of patriarchal and racialized capitalism that governs the contemporary world. In contrast, capitalism shapes laws, rules, and regulations to maintain its grip on power, instilling fear of police and prisons, interventions, and wars. There is nothing humane about this system, while Marxism offers a path to liberation for all individuals from the chains of alienation, exploitation, and inequality.

This is why Marxism presents a humanistic alternative to the barbarism of capitalism. The author is a professor at London Metropolitan University and a columnist for Orissa POST, Odisha's leading English daily newspaper.