Marx's Theory| Western Political Thinkers

 

Karl Marx (1818-1883) was a German philosopher, economist, and social theorist who is perhaps best known for his critique of capitalism and his role in the development of socialist and communist ideologies. Marx was heavily influenced by German philosopher Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel and French social theorist Henri de Saint-Simon, as well as the political and social turmoil of his time.

Marx's most influential work is "Das Kapital," a three-volume analysis of the capitalist system that argued that capitalism is inherently exploitative and leads to social inequality and instability. He believed that the capitalist system creates a class struggle between the bourgeoisie, who own and control the means of production, and the proletariat, who sell their labor to survive.

Marx argued that socialism, or the collective ownership and control of the means of production, would eliminate the exploitative relationships inherent in capitalism and create a more equitable and just society. He famously predicted that capitalism would eventually collapse under the weight of its own internal contradictions, leading to a revolution and the establishment of a socialist system.

Marx's ideas have had a profound impact on social and political thought, and his influence can be seen in the development of socialist and communist movements around the world. However, his ideas have also been subject to criticism and debate, with some arguing that his theories are too simplistic or unrealistic.

Works of Marx:

1.       Praxis

2.       Dialectical Materialism

3.       Historical Materialism

4.       Class Struggle

5.       Theory of Alienation

6.       Theory of Pauperization

7.       Theory of Revolution

8.       Dictatorship of Proletariat

9.       Theory of Communism

Praxis: Praxis refers to the process of applying theoretical knowledge or concepts to practical situations. In other words, it involves putting ideas and theories into action in the real world. Marx believed that only the theoretical idea of socialism is not enough to bring social change or any revolution. And hence he talked about Scientific Socialism or in other words practical application of Socialism.

The concept of praxis is often associated with critical theory, which seeks to challenge and transform social structures and systems of power through both critical reflection and practical action. According to critical theorists, praxis involves not only the application of theoretical knowledge to practical situations, but also the ongoing process of critically examining and reflecting on the results of that action in order to refine and improve it.

Praxis is also closely associated with the idea of empowerment, as it involves giving individuals and communities the tools and knowledge to act in their own interests and make positive change in their lives and society. Marx realized that to bring revolution the proletariat must be brought out of the illusion of various institutions that the capitalist system has generated for their sustenance like religion, capitalist education, state etc. which shall enable the workers to unite to fight against the universal injustice inflicted upon them. Overall, the concept of praxis emphasizes the importance of combining theory and practice in order to create meaningful and sustainable change.

Dialectical Materialism: Dialectical materialism is a philosophical approach developed by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels that forms the theoretical foundation of Marxist and communist ideology. It is a materialist interpretation of history and society that emphasizes the role of social and economic factors in shaping human behavior and development.

In fact, Marx contradicted Hegel in this regard. Hegel gave the concept of “Dialectical Idealism” which means the society progress through conflict of ideas. According to Hegel the idea shape the society and the world. It is the idea which generates materialism. For example in politics, Election exist because the idea of Democracy brought it into existence.

Marx on the other hand said that it is not the idea but the economic condition that determines the social structure. According to Marx the Modes of Production is the determining factor for economic condition of a particular period. When the conflict takes place to such modes of production the economic condition change. Taking the idea of dialectics from Hegel, Marx stated the conflict of thesis and anti-thesis gives birth to synthesis bringing into existence a new social order.

According to dialectical materialism, historical development is driven by a dialectical process of contradictions and conflict, in which the contradictions inherent in social and economic systems lead to conflict and struggle, eventually resulting in a new social order. This process is driven by the material conditions of society, including the means of production and the relationships between classes.

Dialectical materialism also emphasizes the importance of the material world, rather than abstract or idealistic concepts, in shaping human behavior and development. It rejects the notion of a fixed, essential human nature, instead arguing that human beings are shaped by their social and economic environments.

In practice, dialectical materialism has been used to justify revolutionary action and the establishment of socialist or communist societies. Critics of the approach argue that it oversimplifies complex social and economic factors and ignores the role of individual agency and creativity in shaping historical development.

Historical Materialism: Historical materialism is a theoretical framework developed by Karl Marx that seeks to explain the development of human societies and the role of social and economic factors in shaping historical change. It is a materialist interpretation of history that emphasizes the importance of material conditions, including the means of production, in shaping human behavior and development.

According to historical materialism, historical development is driven by changes in the means of production and the relationships between classes. This process is characterized by class struggle, as the ruling class seeks to maintain its power and the working class seeks to improve its material conditions. Eventually, this conflict leads to a new social order in which the means of production are controlled by a new ruling class.

Under this theory Marx divided the history into five time period.

a.       Primitive Communism: When the people were living in tribal unit in the forest. There was equality and the idea of private property had yet not come into existence. He called it communism because whatever was earned or gathered was shared by the entire community of the tribal unit.

b.      Slavery : During ancient period the concept of property came into existence. The mode of production change and conflict started between majority of slaves and minority slave-lords. The slave-lords were supported by the State to maintain their hold onto the lies of the slaves.

c.       Feudalism: Another change into mode of production changed the social order and now the conflict took place between majority of peasants and minority feudal-lords supported by the State.

d.      Capitalism: In modern times the capitalist order came in existence with further change in modes of production and conflict started between majority workers and minority Capitalist supported by the State.

e.       Post-Modern: He prophesised a post modern world after revolution when once again the equality will be established which he termed communist society.  

Historical materialism also emphasizes the role of economic factors in shaping social and political institutions, arguing that these institutions are structured to maintain the dominance of the ruling class. This includes the legal system, the state, and the media, which are used to justify and maintain the status quo.

Class struggle: Class struggle is a key concept in the social and economic analysis of Karl Marx, and is central to his understanding of the dynamics of capitalism. Marx argued that throughout history, the development of society has been driven by class struggle, which arises from the conflict of interest between different social classes.

In the context of capitalism, Marx identified two main classes: the bourgeoisie, or the owners of capital and means of production, and the proletariat, or the working class who sell their labor to survive. The interests of these two classes are fundamentally opposed, with the bourgeoisie seeking to maximize profits and maintain control over the means of production, while the proletariat seeks higher wages, better working conditions, and ultimately control over the means of production.

According to Marx, this conflict of interest between the bourgeoisie and the proletariat is the driving force behind the historical development of society, and is ultimately unsustainable. He believed that the inherent contradictions of capitalism would eventually lead to a revolution by the proletariat, overthrowing the bourgeoisie and establishing a socialist or communist society.

Theory of Alienation: Marx was influence by the concept of Alienation given by Hegel. According to Hegel, alienation is separation of man from universal spirit and it can be brought to an end by generating consciousness. As the consciousness grows we realise that we are part of the universal spirit. Once a person is fully conscious and his mind is completely aware he attains full freedom and real happiness.

Young Hegelian like Fuerbach developed the concept of Alienation in a different way. He held that man remain alienated due to religion. It is because of religion false consciousness is generated. Religion is just a part we live in the state of bondages.

Marx went a step further. He considered religion to be just a part of superstructure. Hence coming just coming out of religion will not end alienation. It will end only when changes will come to the infrastructure that is economic condition. He understood alienation in terms of objectification and the loss of real human nature. In a capitalist society every human being is alienated, not just the workers, even the capitalist also feel alienated.

According to him man is by nature creative and benevolent. But capitalism gives him no scope of self development. It takes place in four stages.

a.       Alienation from the product of his labor: According to Marx, man works not just for the satisfaction of his appetite. There is a difference between man and other animal. Man works for satisfaction and that comes from creation. But capitalism undermines the labor when a person works he creates his own world. Capitalism gives him no scope to create or to work according to his choice. Man produce not what he wants but what the market wants. Hence he lose attachment from his product.

b.      Alienation from the process of production: The process of production has become so much mechanised that it has reduced man at the level of “cog in the wheel”. So the man feel separated from the process as well and he cannot enjoy the process.

c.       Alienation from the society: man does not have time for the society or for the realisation that he is part of the society. He works for long hours and feel alienated from his fellow beings.

d.      Alienation from himself: Finally he loses his own nature of creativity and benevolence. And hence alienation from himself takes place.

According to Marx, the so called freedom in the capitalist society is not true freedom but alienation.

Theory of Pauperization: It suggests that capitalism tends to create conditions that lead to the impoverishment of the working class over time. Marx argued that as capitalism develops, it leads to a concentration of wealth and power in the hands of a small number of capitalists, while the working class is left with increasingly precarious and low-paying jobs.

According to Marx, this process of pauperization occurs because capitalists are driven to maximize profits by cutting labor costs and increasing productivity. They achieve this by investing in new technologies and automation, which leads to a decline in demand for labor, resulting in job losses and lower wages for workers. The result is that workers are left with less bargaining power, leading to a further decline in wages and living standards.

Marx believed that this process of pauperization was not only harmful to workers, but also unsustainable in the long run. As workers become increasingly impoverished, they become more likely to resist the system and demand change. Marx saw the eventual overthrow of capitalism as an inevitability, as the working class became more aware of their shared interests and the need to resist the exploitation of the capitalist system.

Theory of Revolution: The theory of revolution is a central component of Karl Marx's political thought, and it is based on the idea that social change occurs through a process of class struggle. Marx believed that the contradictions of capitalism would eventually lead to the overthrow of the capitalist system and the establishment of a socialist or communist society.

According to Marx, the capitalist system is characterized by the exploitation of the working class by the capitalist class, which owns the means of production and extracts surplus value from the labor of workers. Over time, this leads to the concentration of wealth and power in the hands of the capitalist class, while the working class becomes increasingly impoverished and alienated from the fruits of their labor.

Marx argued that this system of exploitation was inherently unstable, and that it would eventually lead to a revolution by the working class. This revolution would involve the overthrow of the capitalist class and the establishment of a socialist or communist society in which the means of production would be owned collectively and the fruits of labor would be distributed more fairly.

Marx saw the revolution as an inevitable outcome of the contradictions inherent in the capitalist system, and he believed that the role of the working class was crucial in bringing about this revolution. He argued that the working class had a unique position in society because of their collective power and their ability to disrupt the capitalist system through strikes and other forms of protest.

Dictatorship of Proletariat: The dictatorship of the proletariat is a concept developed by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, which refers to the transitional period between capitalism and socialism/communism. According to Marx, the dictatorship of the proletariat is a necessary stage in the process of achieving a classless society, and is characterized by the political rule of the working class over the bourgeoisie.

Marx argued that the bourgeoisie would not willingly relinquish their power and control over society, and that a period of transition would be necessary in order to establish a new social order. During this transitional period, the working class would seize control of the means of production and establish a dictatorship, or "rule," over the bourgeoisie in order to prevent them from reasserting their power and to begin the process of transforming society.

Engels explained that the dictatorship of the proletariat is not a form of government that seeks to impose the will of the working class on society, but rather a necessary response to the resistance of the bourgeoisie to relinquish their power. The dictatorship of the proletariat is intended to be a temporary phase, which would be replaced by a classless society in which all members of society would have an equal say in political decision-making and the distribution of resources.

Theory of Communism: Marx saw communism as the final stage of human development, in which the contradictions and conflicts of class society would be overcome. In a communist society, there would be no need for a state or government, as people would cooperate and work together for the common good. Production would be organized on the basis of need, rather than profit, and the resources of society would be used to meet the needs of all members of society.

Marx's theory of communism is based on the belief that the capitalist system is inherently unjust, and that a classless society based on cooperation and equality is the only way to achieve true human freedom and fulfillment. While communism has not been fully realized in practice, Marxist ideas have had a profound impact on political and social thought, and continue to shape debates about economic inequality and the role of government in society.