Politics, Communism & Marketing: What’s Marx Got To Do With It?

If you think marketing is just about selling Korean skin care and Labubu toys, think again. Behind the glossy campaigns and curated aesthetics, marketing is deeply political. From what we buy to who gets to sell it, everything we consume is part of a bigger system and guess what? That system didn’t come out of nowhere. It’s called capitalism, and it’s having its main character moment.

Let’s rewind a sec - enter: communism. Yep, Karl Marx, the man, the myth, the beard. He had a few thoughts (just a couple) about class struggle, ownership and production and while no one’s asking you to quote The Communist Manifesto at your next strategy meeting, there’s a reason these ideas still pop up in creative conversations.

Marketing is persuasion and that’s power. Whether it’s telling us what to wear, how to feel, or what our lifestyles should look like, marketing doesn’t just sell products, it sells dreams and here’s the thing, those dreams usually come with a price tag and a power structure attached. So yes, politics and marketing are in bed together - always have been.

Even the most apolitical brands (you know the ones, beige everything, “we just love minimalism”) are still making a statement. Who they hire, what they post, where they put their money - it’s all part of a bigger system and let’s be real, slapping a rainbow logo on your brand during Pride while underpaying creatives? Not the revolutionary move you think it is.

So, where does that leave us? As marketers with taste and a conscience, it’s about being aware. You don’t need to be a political theorist to know when a brand is faking the activism. Audiences are smart now, and if your politics are performative, we can see right through it (and screenshot it, and post it, oops). Cancelled!

The future of marketing isn’t just selling - it’s standing for something.

Maybe even standing for less. Less waste, less exploitation, less capitalist chaos dressed up as “aspirational living”.

Communism in marketing? Not quite. Critical thinking? Always.

The Revolution Will Be Branded. xo