In this article, originally published in the London Progressive Journal, Tomasz Pierscionek looks back at a number of conspiracy theories in history and discusses how such extraordinary hypotheses are often used to distract from the actual role of certain individuals and the reality of events within the wider picture of class society and capitalism.

Marxism is often referred to as ‘scientific socialism’, as it is based upon a materialist analysis of history and society, looking at social and economic systems in their historical development. This materialist understanding of capitalism underlines why socialism isn’t just a nice idea or an ‘alternative’ to capitalism, but is actually an essential solution to the problems inherent in the capitalist system. Michael Allan of the Glasgow Marxists explains the contradictions of capitalism highlights the potential for a socialist society that is free of such contradictions.

“It sounds good on paper, but socialism will never work, because if everybody gets everything they need whether they work or not, then there is no incentive to work at all!” This is one of the most typical and caricatured arguments against socialism. Dana Cooper from Socialist Appeal USA, looks at the nature of work under capitalism and how it could be radically transformed in a socialist society.