Marx predicted that capitalism within a socioeconomic system would inevitably create internal tensions between social classes leading to its demise and replacement by a new system, communism. For Marx, the concept of class has always existed in society. Historically, a society has always been arranged into various orders of social rank. A defining characteristic of capitalism however, is that “it has simplified the class antagonisms. Society as a whole is more and more splitting up into two great hostile camps, into two great classes directly facing each other: Bourgeoisie and Proletariat” (Marx and Engels 1848).
4. Believed industrialism forced people into two rival categories: the middle class and the working class. These classes would always fight for political power, but the middle class would always rule because it owned the factories, property, and money and needed to oppress the workers to stay in power. 5. He advised workers to form unions that would overthrow the middle class.
The concept of a classless society has been elaborated by Karl Marx, the father of Marxist philosophy which is the basis of the Communist ideology. As a member of a contemporary society under a democracy, my beliefs are rooted on a society made up of different classes. In order to get to a higher class of society, one has to work with sweat, and even blood. This idea has caused many revolutions because some who do not want the present structure of society want it to be restructured to suit the need of every individual. This essay is an attempt to discuss a classless society and to establish whether a classless society is attainable and sustainable in this century.
For Lenin, the party was to be a group prepared to seize power as soon as possible yet on the other hand, for Martov, the main purpose of the party was to spread propaganda and raise the level of consciousness of the proletariat. This was because he did not believe that Russia was ready for a Marxist revolution for many years. Lenin believed that is the Mensheviks had their way, it would take years to start the revolution; they would just waste time on useless discussion and argument. Martov, replied that the revolution would fail if it did not have the support of the whole working class. The social democratic party remained spilt on the issue.
The proletariat being the working class and the bourgeoisie were the middle class. There was also the kulak that was the independent farmers. How all of these social classes fitted into the communist social structure was hard to imagine and would prove hard for Lenin and the communist to figure out. When Tsarism had collapsed there was some uncertainty in how Russia would by ruled because Tsarism was all that Russia had ever known. Most other European nations who had once had a monarch had all had revolutions and changed from Feudalism to capitalism for example France and the same occurrence in Germany.
Root Causes of the American Revolution There are many different reasons as to why the American Revolution took place. One might argue that the British oppression upon the colonists triggered the Revolution itself through unjust tax laws, land restrictions, trade regulations and political and economic differences. However, one might also argue that the differences between the upper and lower aroused conflict and social unrest, which called for revolution in order for a strong unification between the rich and the poor. Schweikart and Allen’s A Patriot’s History of the United States and Howard Zinn’s A People’s History of the United States discusses these two viewpoints as the root causes of the American Revolution. Although Zinn argues that the conflicts caused by the differentiating social classes in order to dissolve the class divisions was the main cause of the American Revolution, the “other side of the story” is told by Schweikart and Allen, as they reason that it was actually the British who unknowingly burdened the colonies with oppression, which brought about the revolution itself.
The society’s superstructure or culture comprising of laws, morality, religion and politics. These are determined by society’s infrastructure, methods of production and exchange. He sees in history the conflicts that existed between different classes of people in society – the ruling class and the serfs during feudal times. The French Revolution brought an end to feudalism. But during his time, Marx witnessed the industrial Revolution bringing about conflicts between the capitalists and the proletariat, creating two classes in society – the rich and the poor.
They are being alienated because this system(capitalism) is not fair. This theory is all about class struggle and Capitalism is a great example of how there is class struggle In society today. A good example of this in our society today is Medicalization. When we apply conflict theory to Medicalization we can determine that it is all about power and profit. The capitalists or pharmaceutical companies are in it to make a profit.
Andrew Wodarcyk Freshman English Mr. J. Pharion 11 February 2008 Communism During the Russian Revolution Communism was founded on the ideas of Karl Marx and failed because of flaws in the system, mainly in the leadership. To understand why communism failed, one must have researched the principles of Marxism; because of the way that Communism was based upon Marxism. To compare and contrast Communism and Marxism, it would be necessary to research the principles of Communism also. Since there were three leaders during the time of Soviet Communism, understanding the principles of each would be necessary. The first was Vladimir Lenin, whose style of government was referred to as Leninism.
Comments 0 more Karl Marx's Concept of a Classless Society - Marxist Theory By Jay Dioxy Riboz Dec 16, 2009 Edited Mar 3, 2013 0 0 Karl Marx and the society of today The utopian ideal - a classless society The concept of a classless society has been elaborated by Karl Marx, the father of Marxist philosophy which is the basis of the Communist ideology. As a member of a contemporary society under a democracy, my beliefs are rooted on a society made up of different classes. In order to get to a higher class of society, one has to work with sweat, and even blood. This idea has caused many revolutions because some who do not want the present structure of society want it to be restructured to suit the need of every individual. A classless society is a utopian ideal, it has never been reached.