Relations of production

Significant changes have occurred in the means of production since the time Marx wrote about class and capitalism. A subset of these changes involves the development of the sharing economy, a group of apps and websites which serve as a platform for individuals to contract services directly from one another. This may seem like either an emerging sphere of communist exchange within the capitalist economy, with individuals providing goods to one another without the mediation of the extractive…

In the excerpt from Anti-Duhring, called Theoretical, through his historical materialism approach, Friedrich Engles explains that the capitalist mode of production has a fundamental contradiction and by using examples of social and economic struggles, he further validates his position for the basis of the contradiction. By examining these social and economical examples, Engles attempts to demonstrate that over time, capitalism will fail and socialism is the favorable choice. In his article,…

both be maximized, insisting that natural is actually social. Marx believed that workers would be exploited by capitalists or owners of the means of production and that this capitalist system favors the rich and not the poor. Further, as the owner, the owner is able to negotiate lower and lower wages for the worker alienating them from their production in the class conflict between the bourgeoisie and the proletariat. This matters as how we think about markets and how embedded or important they…

allowing them to have an option will motivate them to work under your supervision. This, he believed would save money in the long run because one must hire many leaders to fulfill a job to overlook the slaves while working. Smith believed that the relation between the owner and the slave was crucial in running a successful business or land at that time. By communicating and agreeing with the pay would benefit both parties because they would gain what they are striving…

How does this relate to world politics? The very core of Marxism is the unit of analysis, most theories of IR today assume the state to the main actor, not only that, but to be an autonomous, rational actor, totally independent of social relations like a ‘black box’. Marxism, on the other hand contends it is the class system which is the key to understanding world politics. Furthering this perception; with the new neo-liberal world order replacing the embedded liberal order which centred on the…

How does Karl Marx portray class relations in a capitalist society? What relevance does this hold for understanding today’s world? In this essay, I will discuss Karl Marx’s theories on class relations in a capitalist society, its effects on society and how these apply to the modern capitalist world. Many sociological theorists have contested Marx’s theories, which we will analyse. Marx’s proposed class theory is based on his generalisation that ‘the history of all hitherto existing society is…

wealth/capital, which they then reinvest. Thus, Weber agrees with Marx’s analysis of the basic reproductive features of the capitalist system, and the economic determinism in modern capitalism. Moreover, Marx believed that similarly to other modes of production, capitalism was the result of material and economic conditions, and that economic life was vital for social development. Weber agreed on the importance of economic life, however, Weber believed that culture and ideas had a crucial role in…

political ideologies. For this reason, it is a surprising to discover, when comparing and contrasting these philosophies, Marx and Mill are able to agree on certain facets of private property. Both philosophies believe that private ownership of production and property creates an unstable but expanding economy. Simply put, they agree that private property creates a class who achieves concentrated wealth, and a working class that is burden with struggles. However, their opinions depart from one…

Marx’s Theory of Historical Change states that society is determined at any given time by the means of productions (land, technology, and natural resources) and the social relationships that are occurring while amassing these means of production- like becoming a farmer to feed your family. His theory was based off of Hegel’s Theory of History which explores how we place ourselves in a world of aesthetics whilst the real world is more idealistic. Despite partially agreeing with Hegel’s theory,…

According to Marx, the proletariats are exploited by the bourgeoisie since the bourgeoisie have exclusive control over the means of production. This mistreatment of the proletarians was a direct result of Marx’s conflict theory and the idea that the dominant group, the bourgeoisie, will mistreat the subordinate class to maintain control of the power and means of production. The alienation of the workers then leads to a workers’ revolution which then results in what Marx would consider the…