Discuss the basic principles of marxist theory
Answers
Here are the basic principles of Marxism:
• Opposition to an economic system based on inequality and on the alienation and exploitation of the majority (by means of the system of wage labor), a system whose purpose is to obtain profits for some people rather than satisfying the needs of all. This describes capitalism, but one can obviously imagine other systems that would present similar essential characteristics, to which Marxists would be equally opposed.
For the transformation of society, Marxism considers that a revolutionary process that will lead to a society based on cooperation and the free distribution of goods and provision of services is necessary.
• “The emancipation of the workers must be the task of the workers themselves.” This is principle is inherent to real Marxism, which implies democracy and self-emancipation; it also means that democracy is the indispensable foundation for a new society (called socialism or communism). This society, liberated from the diverse forms of domination, will have to be freely constructed by its members.
• Internationalism, which is simultaneously the recognition of the common interests of the workers of the entire world and of the need to struggle on a world scale, and of the goal of abolishing nations in the transition to a human world community.
• The knowledge and analysis of History (the materialist conception of history).
• The recognition of the existence of social classes that divide men and women into distinct segments of the population; the recognition of the profound inequalities and injustices that separate these classes; and the recognition that as long as society is divided into classes, there will be conflicts between these classes (the class struggle).
As a result, while they participate in the day-to-day class struggle of the workers, Marxists work on behalf of a reorganization of society that will put an end to this class division.
• The free exercise of the critical spirit. “Doubt everything”, Marx said; for the goal is to perceive reality as it is, in order to understand it better and thus to transform it.
These principles, or some of them, could very well be embraced by other political and social tendencies: if this is the case, then so much the better! Marxism does not attempt to isolate itself, quite the contrary: the goal is to contribute to the constitution of a movement of all of society for the creation of “an association, in which the free development of each is the condition for the free development of all” (Karl Marx, The Communist Manifesto).
The basic principles of Marxist theory are
1. Historical Materialism: In the materialist interpretation of history, all changes in society including the evolution of social institutions and the norms of human behaviour are attributed to the underlying economic conditions of society. In this view, the society's basic mode of production, which includes the technology available for production, forms the base of society. On this base is constructed the superstructure of different social and political institutions.
2. Criticism of capitalism: Marxist theory severely criticises capitalism as an exploitative economic system. In this view, all value in a capitalist economy is created by labour. But most of the value created is expropriated by capitalists leaving just enough for bare survival of the workers. Capitalists are able to do so simply because they own the means of production. Marxist theory views this system of production based on private ownership of property as inherently exploitative.
3. Social Classes: Marxist theory divides society into social classes who are inherently in competition with each other. In a capitalist society, the two main social classes are the capitalists (bourgeoisie) and the working class (proletariat). Due to the exploitative nature of the relationship of the bourgeoisie and the proletariat, the two classes have an antagonistic relationship.
4. Revolution, Socialism and Communism: Marxist theory predicts that ultimately, the exploitation of the proletariat will cause them to rise in revolution against the bourgeoisie. Once the revolution succeeds, capitalism will be abolished. It will be replaced by a socialist society where the working class, through the state, will control the means of production. Eventually, socialism will give away to a classless society characterised by Communism. In such a society, according to Marxist theory, there will be no social conflict and every person will work for a greater common good.