stalin, mao and the marxist

[Denise]

i've been checking out a couple marxist blogs in hopes of expanding perspective on marxism. there was one who wrote on the death of 'marxist' --- to be 'marxist' died since stalin and mao. how is this so?

thanks!

[Dros]

It's not.

[Ismail]

That doesn't even make sense. Ludwig von Mises died, ergo Austrian economics died. Is that true? Of course not. Even taking it from a "no more advancement is possible" viewpoint still doesn't make sense.

That blogger could of possibly meant that Mao and Stalin made Marxism look like something wannabe dictators would embrace, which is incorrect but at least that would make sense. The reaction against Socialism during the Cold War obviously shaped the opinions of people whether you think Stalin or Mao were going the right path or not. But I'm sure if you just reject everything past the death of Engels and say "I'm just a Marxist" that you'd be viewed at just fine by people. Of course, saying that you support Stalin, or Mao, or any of that requires explanations.