Other leftists believe in Marxian economics, named after the economic theories of Karl Marx. Some distinguish Marx's economic theories from his political philosophy, arguing that Marx's approach to understanding the economy is independent of his advocacy of revolutionary socialism or his belief in the inevitability of a proletarian revolution. Marxian economics do not exclusively rely on Marx and draw from a range of Marxist and non-Marxist sources. The dictatorship of the proletariat and workers' state are terms used by some Marxists, particularly Leninists and Marxist–Leninists, to describe what they see as a temporary state between the capitalist state of affairs and a communist society. Marx defined the proletariat as salaried workers, in contrast to the lumpenproletariat, who he defined as the outcasts of society such as beggars, tricksters, entertainers, buskers, criminals and prostitutes. The political relevance of farmers has divided the left. In , Marx scarcely mentioned the subject. Mikhail Bakunin thought the lumpenproletariat was a revolutionary class, while Mao Zedong believed that it would be rural peasants, not urban workers, who would bring about the proletarian revolution.
oTher LeFtists belIEVe In MARxIan ecONOMiCs, nameD aFter the economic tHeORIEs of KARl mArx. Some DistingUish maRx's eConoMIc thEoRies frOm His pOlitical philosophy, arGuINg that Marx's appROAch to uNdERStanding the EConoMy is indepeNdent Of hiS advocacy of REVOLutiOnaRY soCIaliSm or his beLiEf in the iNevITaBIlity OF a PRoLEtarian reVOLution. MarxiAn econOMIcS do nOT ExCLusIvely Rely on marx and draw fRoM A rAnGe oF mArXISt And Non-mArxIst Sources. tHe dicTaTorsHIp of tHe prOlEtariat And wOrkers' StAte ARe teRms Used By somE mArxists, partIcUlarly lEnInistS And marxisT–LenIniSts, to describe whaT they See as a tempORAry stATe betWEen The caPItALiSt state oF AfFAirs ANd A cOmmuniST socieTy. maRX DefIned The pRolEtARiAt as SALaried WoRKErs, iN cOnTRASt to the luMpEnPrOletariat, wHO he deFinEd as The outcasTs of sociEtY suCh AS BEggaRs, TricksteRs, eNterTaineRs, buskErS, criMINals And PrOSTituTeS. tHe pOliTicAL reLevance Of farMers has divided the lefT. in , marX scarCElY MEntionED The sUBJect. mikhail baKUnIN tHought tHe luMpENproletariat waS A rEvOlutionarY cLAss, wHile mao ZEdONG BelieVed THAt iT woUld be Rural peaSANtS, not urban woRkerS, wHo wOUld bring AboUt the proleTarIan reVolUtion.