Help needed for Marxism coursework

[RedStarMilitia]

Hi. I'm doing sociology at school (before you criticise school read my post on the hidden curriculum in practice) and you are allowed to choose what coursework you will do. My topic will be "To what extent can the principles of Marxism be applied to today's society". I am already reading the communist manifesto and plan to talk about classical Marxism, modern Marxism, Che's revolution, feminist Marxism and opposing ideologies (I will also post this in the opposing ideologies section).
I was wondering would anyone have any advice on how the principles of Marxism can be applied to today's society and on the other hand how they could not? (it must be a balanced argument).
Although I am left-wing I want to do this and find out information on what opposers to Marxism believe; through this I can learn how to tackle and win complex arguments in the future.
Anyone got any good arguments?

Remember, the coursework will include traditional Marxism, modern Marxism, Che's revolution, feminist Marxism - other theories are welcome. (remember I am fairly new to this - I am not sure on what all the theories entail)

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

[spartafc]

pro:

- expansive trade / 'globalisation' / imperalism. Marx talks alot about how capitalism needs to expand and exploit new markets- it's mentioned in the Communist Manifesto. This is obviously quite true now, in this era of "globalisation".


anti:

- there are certain 'scientific marxist' arguments which argue that marxism is going to happen regardless of the prevailing social conditions for reasons relating to the crisis of capitalism. (Did Engels write about this? Maybe someone can say more - you should probably check that out.) But the idea is that global Socialism is inevitable, this is perhaps not substaniated by events following Marx's criticisms of capitalism.

[RedStarMilitia]

Thanks very much! I have started reading the manifesto and shall continue!