Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels developed Marxist theory, which views society and history through the lens of class struggle and economic determinism. Marx argued that under capitalism, the bourgeoisie exploits the proletariat by appropriating the surplus value of their labor, and that this contradiction will ultimately lead to revolution and the establishment of a communist society without social classes. Marxism analyzes societies using concepts like historical materialism, dialectical materialism, the base-superstructure model, and the forces and relations of production.

1. MARXISM

3. What do you think are the reasons
why social inequalities exist in
society?

4. Who is Karl Marx?

5.  Karl Marx wrote the Communist Manifesto (1848) that
shows the basic struggle between classes and recommends
action against the ‘specter’ of capitalism Capital (1867). It
shows how the capitalist system is exploitative in that it
“transfers the fruit of the work of the majority…to a
minority”. The book contains theories about the nature of
society and politics, that in their own words, “The history of
all as yet existing society is the history of class struggles”.

6.  Friedrich Engels (1820-1895) was a German social
scientist, author, political theorist, philosopher, and
father of Marxist theory, together with Karl Marx. He
wrote Das Kapital. He organized Marx’s notes on the
“Theories of Surplus Value,” which he later published
as the “fourth volume” of Capital. He wrote the
Origin of the Family, Private Property, and the State
(1884), presents the evolution of humankind from
primitive communism, to slavery, feudalism,
capitalism, and finally industrial communism.

7.  Marx and Engels examined the conflict generated by the
increasing wealth of the capitalists (Bourgeosie) at the
expense of the working class (Proletariat) who only sunk
deeper into poverty.
 They viewed social change as an evolutionary process
marked by a revolution in which new levels of social,
political and economic development were achieved through
class struggle.

8. MARXISM
 is “an intellectual process which tries to unify
scientific analysis and emancipator social movements
for the purpose of revolutionizing human society.”

9. MARXISM
 is a method of socioeconomic analysis that uses a
materialist interpretation of historical development to
understand class relations and social conflict, as well as
dialectal perspective to view social transformation.

10. MARXISM
Dialectics
 “reality is a process of change.”
 Marxist claimed that “uneven development as a universal
law oh human history.”
 “is an emphasis upon relationships rather than
individuals.”
 “Contradictions refers to the idea that social relationships
contain opposing or incompatible forces.

11. MARXISM
Historical Materialism
 “theory of history” – human history is basically
determined by the material conditions
 “the process of material production is the foundation of
all human societies”

12. MARXISM
Forces of Production
 “include all those things which determine the technical efficiency
of the production process e.g. human skill, tools, knowledge, energy,
land…”
Relations of Production
 “the social relations which govern the use of labor in production
and the disposition of the economic product.”

13. MARXISM
Base and Superstructure
 Base-production
 Superstructure – laws, politics, religion, family structure
Capitalism
Objectives of Marxist analysis
 Capitalist exploitation
 Drive to accumulate capital

14. Socialism
 The means of production are socially owned and democratically
controlled.
Communism
 Classless society; utopian society
 Common ownership of the means of production