Karl Marx PDF

Karl Marx KEY WORDS Class A fundamental social group or a tangible collectivity which has the capacity to act as a real social force. It is positioned in relation to the (non) ownership of the means of material production. Class Struggle Conflict between two antagonistic social classe...

Karl Marx KEY WORDS Class A fundamental social group or a tangible collectivity which has the capacity to act as a real social force. It is positioned in relation to the (non) ownership of the means of material production. Class Struggle Conflict between two antagonistic social classes which is the motive force of history. Class Interest The aims, aspirations and assumptions of a social class which are collectively shared by the members. Class Consciousness Awareness of the objective class position vis-à-vis others and an awareness of its historic role in the transformation of society. Forces of Means of Production Both the materials worked on and the tools and techniques employed in production of material goods. These material-technical aspects should not be confused with social relations of production. Infrastructure Metaphor to express the basic theoretical priority of the mode of production in relation to the rest of society. It includes the means of production and relations of production. Liberal One who believes in progress, the essential goodness of human beings and autonomy of the individual. Mode of Production The actual relationship between the relations of production and the forces of production. Proletarian Representative of the lowest socioeconomic class of a community Relations of Production Social relationships that directly or indirectly arise out of the production of material conditions of life. Superstructure Metaphor to represent the social conditions of the existence of the infrastructure. It includes state, schools, religions, institutions, culture, ideas, values and philosophy, etc. State A set of institutions and apparatuses that serve as an outpost of the dominant class and further its interests. It enjoys a relative autonomy from the infrastructure and belongs to the superstructure.  KARL MARX Quick Idea – Marx was unhappy with the societal climate of his time, in which the working class (proletariat) were being exploited by the upper/middle class (bourgeois) by using the labor of the working class to fatten their own wallets. Marx envisioned a revolutionary society in which everyone’s needs are met, and no class divisions exist. This system, also known as “socialism”, was Marx’s vision for the perfect society. In detail – In order to survive man must produce. Production is essential. Man must fulfill the basic needs of survival like food, clothing & shelter once the basic needs are fulfilled he creates new. Production - First historical act. In this way the need of production is never ending. Thus, he states that production is not only first historical act but the fundamental condition of history. In order to produce man must enter into relationships with others. He called this as relations of production. Along with the relations man also requires tools, techniques, labour, etc. Marx called these as forces of production. Both are required for the production.  RELATIONS OF PRODUCTION In order to produce man must organize or enter into relations. The exact organization varies from era to era & society to society. These are 2 types of relations – 1) Relation b/w man & things 2) Relation b/w man & man 1) These relations include ownership or non- ownership. The basic difference is of who controls. In every society these 2 extreme relationships are present since the corruption of private property started. The relation b/w Man & Man is of domination and subordination. The exact nature is in the form of antagonistic cooperation. These relations result into 2 broad stratas in the society, i.e, haves and have-nots. The 2 broad classes present in all existing societies. Haves are the owners & the ones who dominate whereas have nots are non–owners & subordinates. The exact relationship varies from society to society. The pattern of ownerships change but the domination & subordination remains. The forces of production – Include the material aspect of the production. These have 2 aspects, 1) Man - which include the entrepreneur, worker in a capitalist society. This includes the living component of production having consciousness. 2) Things - which includes tools, techniques, equipments and other non–living components. Marx also called them as Means of Production. This also includes skills, technical know how needed for production. Marx believes that the forces of production denote man’s control over nature. After all production is nothing but transformation of things found in nature into things with exchange value. As the history proceeds, man’s control over nature increases. Marx understands this in the form of man’s constant struggle with nature. Again, a relation of domination and subordination appears. Different forces of production emerge in different societies. Ranging from stones in primitive society to modern complex technology of factory system of industrial society. MODE OF PRODUCTION According to Marx – the forces & relations of production are closely linked i.e. both govern each other. Within society the forces and relations are in a state of constant interplay. This constant interplay results into a particular type of society for which Marx uses the term “ Mode of Production”. Marx also uses the term “social formation”. The social formation includes not only FOP(Factors of production) and ROP(Relation of Production) but other aspects like family, religion, culture etc. which are by products of the interplay. All these other things are shaped by the production and in turn help in the functioning of production. This forms the basis of System view of Marx. Society contains 2 parts – (i) Economic Infrastructure which includes forces & relations of production (ii) Social Superstructure which includes religion, family, values, morality law, education etc. In brief, according to Marx, economic infrastructure shapes social superstructure which in turn helps the functioning of economic infrastructure. HISTORICAL MATERIALISM Marx general ideas about society are known as his theory of historical materialism. Marx himself termed it as materialistic conception of history. The clear exposition of his theory is found in the book “contribution to the critique of political economy”. But this theory has evolved with time in virtually all his texts. It is called historical because analyses the evolution of society through history. It is called materialistic because he emphasizes more on material factors than on ideal factors. The material factors include forces & relations of production. The theory of historical materialism looks at change in society in terms of changing material condition. This theory contains 2 inter relates aspects 1) Materialistic conception of society ( System view). 2) Evolution of Society (Dynamic view). 1) Materialistic conception of Society – His conception of society is based on centrality of production. According to Marx, production is essential for survival and in order to produce man requires both forces & relations of production. Their constant interplay gives rise to a particular mode of operation which generates system view of society having a materialistic conception. Economic infra shapes or gives rise to social element of superstructure where in turn helps in functioning of economic infra. Thus, material conditions in the form of various FOP is the basis of his conception of society. 2) Evolution of Society (Dynamic view) – According to Marx, Production is the first historical act and also a necessary condition of history. Production represents the material factors and society changes with changing material factors. The evolutionary view of Marx explains both societies in part as well as future. He conceptualizes 4 stages of societies in the part and 2 more in future. Stages – 1. Primitive communism 2. Ancient mode of Production 3. Feudalism 4. Capitalism – Present (In Europe) 5. Socialism 6. Communism Explanation & the process of change through history Marx’s evolutionary model starts with primitive communism in which the needs of man are basic. Food is abundant. And is found in nature. No productive relations or forces are required. Man’s self–satisfied. Thus there is no exploitation no class. With time the population increased, food became scarce, specialized tools are required to generate food. Some people mastered these tools & started conquering food. Other people became dependent on them. Gradually Master-Slave relationships emerge. Slaves are the properties of masters & master owns tools & surplus food. With time population increases. Slaves are prescribed to produce more & more food leading to their even increasing exploitation. The struggle starts within ancient mode of production and new forces of production start emerging pertaining to agriculture. Slaves know these techniques. When the exploitation reaches at its peak, the slaves revolt and want to work independent on fields. Gradually, with time a new mode of production, i.e. Feudal mode, evolved in which few people who owned the land, now known as feudal lords emerged, who were erstwhile masters. The erstwhile slaves now became serfs. Serfs cultivate land and give a share of the produce to the lords in lieu of protection and as land rent. Thus 2 classes again emerged, i.e., feudal lords & serfs. With time lords started demanding more. Serfs started feeling exploited as they were not even able to meet their subsistence. Continuous struggle b/w the 2 started. During this period, due to higher population the rationale of mass production started. Few feudal lords developed factories, requiring labor. At an appropriate time, serfs will revolt and will move towards factory. Gradually, a new mode of production emerged in which production is done by machines in the factory owned by the capitalist who is erstwhile feudal lord workers in the factories are erstwhile serfs. Workers are free to sell their labour and get wages in lieu of their work wages are minimum at subsistence level and gradually the workers start feeling exploited as his unable to fulfil the needs. The becomes too much dependent on capitalist for his survived he has no alternative. The exploitation reaches at its peak. When the right conditions appear the workers revolt. The workers revolution will lead to establishment of socialism in which all will be movers. Private property will be abolished and each will get according to one’s need & not greed. There will be no class & all will be movers. With time, Marx argues that, workers will announce their power as there’ll be no need for a state. All will be enlightened & free and that will be the end of history.