Rosa Luxemburg

Revolutionary socialist who challenged political norms through radical theories and anti-war activism

Rosa Luxemburg (1871-1919) stands as one of history's most influential Marxist theorists and anti-militarist activists. Born in Russian Poland, she became a key figure in German and international socialism by developing groundbreaking economic theories like 『The Accumulation of Capital』 (1913), which analyzed imperialism through Marxist lenses.

Her 『mass strike』 theory revolutionized labor movements, arguing for spontaneous worker actions rather than bureaucratic union strategies. During WWI, she co-founded the Spartacus League, organizing anti-war protests despite imprisonment—a stance that contrasted sharply with mainstream socialists supporting national war efforts.

Luxemburg's assassination in 1919 during the German Revolution cemented her legacy as a martyr for revolutionary socialism. Modern scholars highlight her intersectional approach, combining class struggle with critiques of colonialism and advocating democracy within socialist systems—ideas decades ahead of her time.