Meaning: The quote "In capitalist history, invasion and class struggle are not opposites, as the official legend would have us believe, but one is the means and the expression of the other" by Karl Liebknecht, a German socialist politician, encompasses a significant aspect of Marxist theory and historical analysis. This quote reflects the Marxist perspective on the relationship between capitalist expansion, imperialism, and class struggle. To fully understand the implications of Liebknecht's statement, it is essential to delve into the historical and theoretical contexts that underpin it.

Karl Liebknecht was a prominent figure in the German socialist movement during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. As a Marxist, Liebknecht viewed history through the lens of class struggle, wherein the dominant economic system, capitalism, perpetuated social and economic inequalities. From a Marxist perspective, capitalism is characterized by the exploitation of the working class by the capitalist class, leading to inherent conflicts and contradictions within society.

The notion of invasion in the quote can be interpreted in the context of imperialism, which was a significant feature of capitalist expansion during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Imperialism, as understood by Marxist theorists, was driven by the economic interests of the ruling capitalist class, who sought to expand their markets, access cheap labor and resources, and secure profitable investment opportunities abroad. This drive for expansion often manifested in the form of colonial conquests, military interventions, and geopolitical dominance.

Liebknecht's assertion that invasion and class struggle are not opposites but rather interconnected reflects the Marxist understanding of imperialism as a means through which the ruling capitalist class seeks to advance its economic interests, often at the expense of exploited and oppressed populations. In this sense, invasion, whether in the form of colonial conquests or military interventions, serves the economic and geopolitical objectives of the capitalist class, while exacerbating class antagonisms both domestically and internationally.

Furthermore, Liebknecht's quote emphasizes that class struggle is not confined to the domestic sphere but extends to the global arena, where imperialist powers vie for dominance and control. The subjugation of colonized peoples, the extraction of resources, and the imposition of exploitative economic structures are seen as manifestations of the class struggle on an international scale. This perspective underscores the interconnectedness of social, economic, and political dynamics within the framework of capitalism.

From a Marxist standpoint, the relationship between invasion and class struggle is dialectical, wherein each serves as both the means and the expression of the other. The expansion of capitalism through imperialist ventures creates conditions of inequality, exploitation, and resistance, giving rise to intensified class conflicts and social upheavals. Conversely, internal class struggles within capitalist societies can influence the course of imperialist ventures, as competing capitalist interests seek to assert their dominance and secure their positions within the global hierarchy.

In conclusion, Karl Liebknecht's quote encapsulates the Marxist understanding of the interplay between capitalist expansion, invasion, and class struggle. It underscores the inseparable relationship between imperialism and the perpetuation of class inequalities, shedding light on the complex dynamics of power, exploitation, and resistance within the capitalist world system. This perspective continues to inform critical analyses of global capitalism and its impact on societies, both past and present.