Marxist Materialism: Class Struggle and Historical Analysis
Marxist Materialist Conception of History
Marx’s materialist conception of history diverges from Hegel’s idealism. Marx believed that material conditions, not abstract beliefs, shape the laws of nature and society. Understanding these material conditions is crucial for understanding social laws. This approach, known as the materialist conception of history, emphasizes economic analysis as the foundation of political science.
According to Marx, the worker’s revolution stems from the inherent indignity of being unable to survive without labor. Humans must utilize their labor power for production. In the Middle Ages and Early Modern periods, agriculture was the primary source of materials, later shifting to factories. Work is inherently a social activity, involving relationships of production. These relationships, which vary throughout history, define social structures. For example, slave owners had different relationships than slaves. Feudal lords controlled labor within their territories, while the bourgeoisie pays the proletariat for their work.
The Engine of History: Class Struggle
Class struggle is the driving force of history. Changes in productive forces lead to conflicts. The combination of production relations and productive forces constitutes a mode of production. Political economy examines human relations and productive forces, which form the base of society. This base determines the relations of production and, consequently, the legal framework.
The Industrial Revolution created two primary classes: the proletariat and the bourgeoisie. The bourgeoisie owns the means of production, while the proletariat provides the labor. The bourgeoisie’s triumph is often achieved through deliberate manipulation. The worker’s labor generates surplus value, which the bourgeoisie appropriates as capital gains. Technological advancements increase productivity, allowing the bourgeoisie to produce more with less labor. This leads to declining wages and increasing poverty for the proletariat. As the proletariat becomes aware of this exploitation, class consciousness rises, leading to revolution.
From Revolution to Communism
Following a successful revolution, the dictatorship of the proletariat is established. This transitional phase eliminates class distinctions, creating a society of workers. Religion, viewed as an opiate that masks suffering, is rejected. The ultimate goal is communism, a violence-free society where class struggle disappears. In a communist society, resources are freely available to all, according to their needs. The state, controlled by the workers, determines the distribution of resources.
The Industrial Revolution in England
The Industrial Revolution began in England with the invention of the steam engine, leading to the growth of cities. Wealthy landowners established large factories, displacing agricultural workers who were forced to seek employment in urban areas. While the lives of the wealthy improved, workers faced harsh conditions, including 14-hour workdays and the exploitation of children in mines and factories. Workers were often paid per product, not per hour, and unemployment and poverty increased.
The Rise of Labor Movements
Workers began forming associations to address their grievances, but these were banned by the British Parliament from 1800 to 1824. The Industrial Revolution subsequently spread to Belgium, France, Germany, and other European countries.