The Proletariat, By Karl Marx

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Karl Marx presents an abstract frame when discussing human history and domination. He posits that current human domination, as he witnessed it, is a result of economic progress. He defines history as a story of class struggles, the oppressed against the oppressor. Marx states during the medieval era when feudalism was the general economic order, there was a pluralistic class struggle between the nobles, the monarchy, serfs, merchants, etc... Capitalism would come in place of feudalism, as a result of economic revolution. With capitalism now taking the reins as the new economic order, class struggle diminished to a simple binary between the exploiter and the exploited, the Bourgeoisie and the Proletariat. This critical distinction came, as Marx …show more content…

The Proletariat becomes stronger, because continued exploitation pushes them to develop a class consciousness. In addition, Marx implies that the bourgeoisie actually facilitates the organization of the Proletariat via the creation of labor unions. As aforementioned the relations of production will prove to be a hindrance for the capitalist means of production and thus an entirely new sociopolitical order would be necessary. As the base transforms in another economic revolution, the superstructure will transform as well. Subsequently, there would be radical changes to current political institutions. Marx insists that a reshaping of the superstructure is necessary because in capitalist society, "the executive of the modern state is nothing but a committee for managing the common affairs of the whole bourgeoisie." Marx envisions a classless society to emerge because the end of capitalism would bring about the end of class conflict. The defeat of capitalism brings about the end of human domination, because the Proletariat would no longer be exploited by a Bourgeoisie and society would no longer be subjected to the will of the State, a mere instrument of the Bourgeoisie. The Bourgeoisie ironically empowers their opposition. Marx sums it best, "What the bourgeoisie therefore produces, above all, are its own

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