POLS1301 Lecture Notes - Lecture 5: Classical Marxism, For Marx, Proletariat
13 May 2018
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CLASSICAL MARXISM
Three Key Features of Classical Marxism
1. Historical Materialism - Historical change occurs (not as a result of ideas or leaders) as a
consequence of struggles around our material conditions of existence - ie conditions for
obtaining food, clothing, shelter etc. At any given point in time, the material conditions of
existence are determined by the ‘Mode of Production’ (MOP) - ie of how the production of
goods is organised in society. Marx explored several different MOPs – eg feudalism, capitalism,
socialism. The MOP determines the ‘relations of production’ (class formation) in any particular
society. Eg in capitalist MOP two classes will be formed – bourgeoisie (capitalists) and
proletariat (workers). MOP also determines the ideological superstructure of any particular
society (ie the dominant ideas, moral values, law, art, religion etc). The historical transition from
one MOP to another - eg from feudalism to capitalism or from capitalism to socialism - will
occur as irresolvable contradictions and class struggles arise within the MOP (the ‘dialectic’).
For Marxists, socialism is the final and highest mode of production.
2. Alienation
Premised on Marx’s theory of human nature. For Marx, human beings are planners and doers
(ie naturally creative). The link between planning and doing is work or labour. But under
capitalism, this gets distorted and constricted. Labour is simply a means to meet basic needs &
is both compulsory and coercive. Thus under capitalism human beings are alienated: they are
alienated from their own human/creative nature, from the things they produce, from the act of
labouring and from their fellow human beings. This produces particular and detrimental results
for human society. The causes of this alienation are private property; waged labour; market
exchange; the division of labour; hierarchical organisation of work. Alienation can only end
with the end of capitalism.
3. Exploitation
Marx argues that the rewards of capitalism come from the exploitation of workers and
unequal/unfair exchange. Ie under capitalism, production is organised to enable the extraction of
surplus value from a labourer’s work and workers are paid less than its ‘real’ (or exchange)
value. Thus capitalists make their profits through an unequal/unfair exchange of wages for
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
At any given point in time, the material conditions of existence are determined by the mode of production" (mop) - ie of how the production of goods is organised in society. Marx explored several different mops eg feudalism, capitalism, socialism. The mop determines the relations of production" (class formation) in any particular society. Eg in capitalist mop two classes will be formed bourgeoisie (capitalists) and proletariat (workers). Mop also determines the ideological superstructure of any particular society (ie the dominant ideas, moral values, law, art, religion etc). The historical transition from one mop to another - eg from feudalism to capitalism or from capitalism to socialism - will occur as irresolvable contradictions and class struggles arise within the mop (the dialectic"). For marxists, socialism is the final and highest mode of production: alienation. For marx, human beings are planners and doers (ie naturally creative). The link between planning and doing is work or labour.
