Social/Economic Views Of Marx Essay, Research Paper
Introduction
The latter part of the nineteenth century was teeming with evolved social and
economical ideas. These views of the social structure of urban society came about
through the development of ideals taken from past revolutions and the present clash of
individuals and organized assemblies. As the Industrial Revolution steamed ahead paving
the way for growing commerce, so did the widening gap between the class structure
which so predominantly grasped the populace and their rights within the community. The
development of a capitalist society was a very favorable goal in the eyes of the
bourgeoisie. Using advancing methods of production within a system of free trade, the
ruling middle class were strategically able to earn a substantial surplus of funds and
maintain their present class of life. Thus, with the advancement of industry and the
bourgeoisie’s gain of wealth, a counter-action was undoubtedly taking place. The
resultant was the degradation of the working-class, of the proletarians whom provided
labor to a middle-class only to be exploited in doing so. Exploitation is a quarrel between
social groups that has been around since the dawn of mankind itself. The persecution of
one class by another has historically allowed the advancement of mankind to continue.
These clashes, whether ending with positive or negative results, allow Man to evolve as a
species, defining Himself within the social structure of nature. Man’s rivalry amongst one
another allows for this evolution! through the production of something which is different,
not necessarily productive, but differing from the present norm and untried through
previous epochs.
Karl Marx
At this time in history, mankind was moving forward very rapidly, but at the price
of the working-class. Wages were given sparsely, and when capital gain improved, the
money paid for labor did not reflect this prosperity. This, therefore, accelerated the
downfall of the proletarians and progressed towards a justifiable revolt against the
oppressive middle class. The conclusion of this revolt was envisioned to be a classless
society, one in which its people benefit from and that benefits from its people. The
overthrow of capitalism would create a socialist society eventually flourishing into
communism. Karl Heinrich Marx (1818 – 1883) was the philosophical analysis who
created communism and saw it as an achievable goal. Marx denounced religion and
created what were thought to be radical ideas, which resulted in the banishment from his
native land of Germany and then France, eventually ending up in England. (Compton’s
Encyclopedia, 121) Through dialectical processing Marx was able to synthesize a theory
of a classless society. This society would be achievable through the joint union of the
proletarians and overthrow of the governing bourgeois. For the working-class man does
not benefit from the labor which he provides. His labor is external to himself and is not
actually belonging to his essential being. Therefore in work, the proletarian denies
himself and does not validate his worthiness as an individual.(Marx from Haberman,
183) The worker has no existence except to work, which furthers the employer, but
degrades the laborer and eventually results in a grasping individual.
Marxism and the Political/Economic Structure
Marx realized that with the unification of the working-class, they would be able to better
themselves and their lives, and in doing so, better society on the whole. The aspiration to
achieve this was purely theoretical and though Marx felt attainable, it was undoubtedly
flawed. The communist ideals are purely a utopian dream which cannot be reached
because of humans inescapable desire to satisfy their own egos. A proletarian society
would not remain harmonious without individuals seeking personal satisfaction, and
without a governing body chaos would result, paving a road which would lead to
totalitarianism. Marx’s views were of the proletarian class rising to crush the bourgeois
ideals which governed their lives. This would result in a proletarian dictatorship, through
which ends would have to be met in order to rid the community of the existing means of
production and prosperity. The abolition of private property would be achieved by
ridding the bourgeoisie’s ownership of lands, and allowing them to be publicized. This
would enable the removal of selfish individualism which splits society into segregated
portions, and allow the rich and poor to become more economically equal in status. This
however is only partially attainable, for one cannot undo what has already taken place.
Marx states that the faster industry progresses, the weaker the proletarian becomes.
Eventually storming the top of the social pyramid in order to reconstruct and overthrow
the bourgeois assembly. This revolt would take place as a result of the demands of the
laborers not being met, and wages not increasing with the increase of profit. The
proletarian would feel worthless, and with nothing to lose, revolt against their employers.
The vision of a capitalist state neglecting its workers and allowing them to use their mass
of people to simply reverse the ways of society is ridiculous. In a capitalist state, the class
which finds itself in the position of dividing up labor to produce a marketable product is
the one which benefits the most. The bourgeois in this case would be in this class, and in
ruling, would not allow the organized overthrow of their established system. In order to
increase net profit, the employer must exploit the labor provided by his workers to ensure
the increase in overall revenue. In a capitalist society, the expansion of markets and
growth of production allows for the unfortunate increase between classes and their
economical value. Having acquired business sense which has allowed them to maintain
their more than satisfactory lifestyle, the bourgeois would have unquestionably not have
exploited the work of proletarians to the extreme. Not increasing wages and allowing the
workers to become restless would have been a grave mistake on the part of the
employers. A solution in preventing an outcry at a revolutionary level would be to
increase wages sufficiently in providing maximum surplus capital, but at the same time
creating a payroll which would satisfy the workers. While raising the level of pay would
create wage wars amongst different proletarian groups, it would stabilize the lifestyle
which the bourgeois were living. If wages did not increase at least a minute amount, then
the middle-class lifestyles would become threatened, eventually resulting in personal
instability which would not be worth the money saved in keeping payrolls at such a low
level.
If the working class did decide to proceed to overthrow the bourgeois, then yet
another problem would arise. This problem would be in the control of the revolting
populace. The communist goal is to achieve a classless society with the eventual
abolition of the state itself, in order to unite all working-class men. This would be very
difficult without the organization of a governing assembly which would then defeat the
revolutions own purpose. In order to achieve an ultimate goal, there must be some type of
plan implemented in order to successfully do this. A spontaneous clash with an opposing
minority would just reveal to that class what it is that they have done wrong, and allow
them to correct their errors in order to restore the profitable production which they have
to this point maintained. To properly overthrow the ruling class, an appointed assembly,
within the revolting assembly, would need to direct and acquire the ideas and interests of
all its followers. This would create the establishment of the proletarians own class
society within their own people, therefore going against everything in which the
revolution was trying to accomplish.
This organization of the proletarians could enable them to attain the goals which
they set out to grasp. Upon reaching these goals it would be reasonable to question
whether the classes now set up within would actually disintegrate and allow for equality
amongst all men. This would mean that the governing proletarian assembly would
deteriorate and become one of the same. Also, the defeated bourgeois who were hated
and envied, could not themselves be oppressed by the proletarians. In order to meet the
goals of the revolution, they would have to become equals and allowed to take from
society as all else do. This would leave the door open to a counter revolution in order to
restore society to the previous means of operation. As well, through human nature man
cannot simply defeat its enemy and then expect to live along side of it. To defeat your
enemy is to become your enemy, and in this case that would result in an oppressor and an
oppressed, appositely situated when looking at it from a class structure.
Equality for All
The idea of creating an equal society is a provocative promise in order to rally
people together and create a common goal, but keeping this goal is very unrealistic. Now
the ruling assembly within the working-class has gained power, and like the bourgeois,
they can see that this power is easily harnessed. By altering the goals of the revolution in
a way that still brings about change from the past ways of society, allows the ruling class
to bring prosperity to their own lives. Falling under the same “spell” as the bourgeois did
themselves, the new rulers can fulfill their own egos while governing a body of people
who are much more tolerable. Their tolerance comes from the feeling of victory which
really just creates a much more efficient work force. Because of their own blindness, they
cannot see that in the light of change, in fact, nothing really has.
The Communist Manifesto ends proclaiming: “Workingmen of all countries,
unite!” This is to further emphasize Marx’s belief that the proletarians have only each
other and do not belong to a country or state. What exists as a state is only known and
developed within a capitalist society by the bourgeois. The state is created in order to
identify with trade and production techniques, and helps in creating various bounded
markets.
The technique which the proletarian class would use to overthrow the bourgeois
would be to join all workers in a mutual interest of intent. In doing so, Marx believes the
state or nation will collapse, allowing the unification of all laborers, regardless of
heritage and state of origin. Therefore clashes between nations would cease, and only one
world of united people who want to live and work equally would exist. Another
imperfection in Marx’s theories is revealed. If socialism, communism being the ultimate
goal, was to flourish, it would not be ubiquitous. Hence, some states would progress
faster than others, while some would not be interested in a socialist society at all. In
theory, this develops a unified nation which through joint interest becomes stronger as it
strives toward its target. Through the collaboration of many, a devotion develops in the
form of nationalistic views. This nationalism which strengthens the undertaking, will
directly and indirectly threaten other nations or states which have not progressed at the
same pace. This will obviously create tension between nations, especially those
geographically bordering each other, and could lead to conflict or persecution of one
state by another. This would then take the capitalist theory of the oppressed and the
oppressor to a different level, again steering away from the communist goals which were
to be accomplished. An example of communism’s flaws can be seen in the revolution led
by V.I. Lenin in Russia. Using politically left winged tactics, he sought to achieve
communism through the heading of the Bolsheviks. Following his death, Stalin saw the
opportunity to create an industrial state which could grow to engulf the larger capitalist
states around. Stalin’s form of governing resulted in the political system known as
totalitarianism, which created an ultimate power. This corrupted the utopian dream of
communism and again resulted with a specific figure and class living off the wealth
produced by the rest of the state. Throughout history man has evolved, becoming a more
and more complex thinker. This process of evolution is in order to further himself and
socially adapt to the changing times in which he lives. Evolution is inevitable and will
never cease, therefore man will continue learning, trying to gain more knowledge and
accomplish what hasn’t been done.
Individual or Society
Communism does not allow for man’s own gratification, that is why it is an
impractical way of thought. To strive towards a society which everyone is equally
represented does seem pleasant, but it becomes an inaccurate way of reasoning. For once
the ideal communist society is reached, what would be the point of working? Labor and
work are to advance society as a whole, though not all at the same rate, varying on the
type of work and strength at which one strives. Therefore once communism has been
reached, essentially the evolution of man ceases. This would be an impossibility. Since
man is born into an imperfect world, he too is imperfect, changing to meet his own needs
within the needs of the environment in which he lives. Since the only consistency in the
universe is change, then man cannot expect to become the controlling factor of change
and govern its principles. In living in a communist society, man believes that all are
equal, contributing to the advancement of the Race as a whole. But the error here is that
not all believe that all are equal. Many feel that their own personal goals are correct, and
they set out to reach them. Consequently, a society of classes begins to develop, where
one voice gains followers while another speaking out against the first creates his own as
well. What then results from these cries is a clash between various groups, leading to the
establishment of a class system. Communism is an idealists utopian dream. It is only
achievable through the unification and agreement of all who populate a state. Only when
an entire populace lose their own individuality will a communist society then take form.
Man continuously strives to prove his own self worth, to himself and not humanity.
Humanity on a whole will continue to progress regardless of personal achievements great
men rise while others fall. It is therefore seen that a communist society due to the facts
regarding social evolution, cannot exist. For a communist society moves ahead together,
yet remains idle when looking at an individual. This is illogical, for we are just that,
individuals. We as humans are imperfect individuals, and selfishly stride towards
justifying our personal goals, collaborating with others only when knowing it will
strengthen our own grip.
The following references were used to either compile text information, create
figures, or for direct quotation.
“Communism”. Academic American Encyclopedia. 1989.
“Marx, Karl”. Compton’s Encyclopedia. 1986.
“Socialism”. Academic American Encyclopedia. 1989.
Ebenstein, William. Today’s isms. New Jersey: Prentice-Hall Incorporated, 1970.
Haberman, Arthur. The Modern Age: Ideas in Western Civilization. Toronto:
Gage Educational Publishing Company, 1987.
Marx, Karl and Friedrich Engels. The Communist Manifesto. Illinois: AHM Publishing
Corporation, 1955.
McKay, John P. and others. A History of Western Society. Volume II, 3rd ed. Boston:
Houghton Mifflin Company, 1987.