The Classical-Liberal Roots of Marxist Class Analysis

Recorded 15 October 1988 at the Marx and Marxism Conference.

The laissez-faire liberals understood that state violence is used by government agents, employees, and benefactors to exploit the rest of the population. Thus, the liberals understood the economic and political importance of “class warfare.” Later, though, the Marxists twisted the idea to claim that capitalists “exploit” the workers.