Marxist Development Theory - Essay Example

Marxist Development Theory The works of Marx have contributed much in the fields of sociology, economics and philosophy. Marx and his friend Engel were concerned with the capitalist system of the society as they considered it exploitative and alienating for laborers as well as creating antagonistic relationships society. His work is based on the idea of historic materialism such that all present events are due to historical development as opposed to the Hegelians who believe in an inverse or unrealistic view of the world. For Marx, the relations in society are determined by the mode of production and mode of exchange. Any developments in mode of production give forth to a new system hence the development of capitalism through destruction of feudalism and he believes that capitalism will be destroyed by revolutionary proletariats and a new system of communism will emerge. For him, the development of the materials of production by capitalists will be used against them by the proletariats as weapons of destruction. He criticizes a lot the wage-labor which helps capitalists to accumulate capital or what he calls private property. The main aim of his theory is destruction of this private property which is based on ‘the exploitation of many by the few” (Marx & Engel, 24). The ideas of Marx and the communists as a whole were written in a document referred as the ‘manifesto of the communist party’ or what is commonly known as the communist manifesto. In this document, he outlines his theory of historical development of society, that is, of the bourgeois as well as the proletariats until capitalism is destroyed and communism installed thus ending class struggles prevalent in the modern capitalist system. The manifesto was published in 1848 amidst revolutions in Europe. The document was appealing especially to the working class in their struggles and continues to be of relevance in today’s society. Most of the things predicted in this theory came to pass although the main aim has not yet been achieved and seems far out of sight. The document incorporates most of Marxist ideologies such as the surplus value, and a critique of the political economy. The aim of this paper is to critically analyze Marx’s theory first by establishing why he was writing the theory and the other theories he was criticizing. Secondly, is to examine the building blocks of the theory and how they come together to explain social development. Thirdly, to discuss the strengths of the theory and its usefulness in explaining social change then its weaknesses will be discussed and lastly, the effectiveness of the theory in explaining what it set out to explain will be discussed. The Communist Manifesto The communist manifesto was written by Marx and Engel in 1848 for the communist party. Its main purpose was to guide the overthrow of the bourgeoisies and installation of the rule of the proletariat thus ending classes and class struggles as well as the institution of private property (Friedrich & Marx, Section I). Marx wrote the manifesto at this time due to various reasons. First, there was much discontent with the ruling class at the time as it was no longer serving the needs of the society but its own interests. As such, there were a lot of planned revolutions in Europe due to discontent and the workers needed to come together guided by a policy document that entailed the tactics to be used. The manifesto was to serve this purpose. It was written in several languages thus gaining popularity among workers leading to formation of labor parties to fight for the common interests of workers. The communist manifesto was also written at that particular time of history to guide the communists or revolutionaries as an ideology. The manifesto was critical of capitalism due to its exploitive nature and served to agitate the readers to unite and seek for freedom. It analyzed the ills brought about by industrialization and to enlighten workers of their rights. It depicted capitalism as just another stage in history that was destined to pass just like previous systems of feudalism and medieval ages. The only solution to workers woes according to Marx and Engel was to destroy capitalism and this was to be achieved if the proletariat organized into classes thus form a political party and gain political power (Friedrich & Marx, Section IV). The theory is aimed at discrediting other theories such as the Adam smith and Ricardo’s theories of development and labor value. Marx agrees with Smith and Ricardo that commodities have value (Marx & Engels, 1970, 72-73). The point of departure is the pace of economic development. According to Smith and Ricardo capitalism has three classes comprising of the landlords, capitalist, and workers and all of them enjoy equal rights. Marx on the other hand, views capitalism as a model comprising of two classes: the capitalists and the wage-laborers or proletariats. The capitalists in this case are more superior and proletariats are subordinates. He does not acknowledge the landlords but sees them as a subclass of the capitalists or petty bourgeoisies. While Smith and Ricardo view agriculture as essential for the development of the economy, Marx gives more importance to modern industries and forces of production as the movers of the economy. The growth of capitalism is associated with development in division of labor in society and reflects growth in forces of production. However, while Smith views division of labor as increasing productivity which is good for economic growth Marx does not agree. For Marx, increased productivity as a result of division of labor leads to more capital accumulation and alienation of laborers from the products of their labor (Marx & Engel, 27). Another point of departure is the state intervention in the market. Smith advocates for the invisible hand to promote common good thus allowing markets to be driven by forces of demand and supply and little intervention from state. Everyone pursues self –interest. However, for Marx the capitalist system is full of antagonism and leads to uneven development. Capitalists accumulate a lot of wealth and form some kind of monopoly thus relegating others (petty bourgeois, shop keepers, workers) to the background (Marx, ch.31). The gap between the poor and the rich thus keep widening leading to more crises between the capitalist and proletariats and the only way to solve these antagonisms according to Marx is to abolish private property and establish communism thus destroying capitalism and its evils. Marxist development theory is based on various principles. First, it is based on the assumption that the mode of production determines the nature of superstructure (Marx & Engel, 2005). Superstructure includes the state, religious organizations and schools. On the other hand, the material base refers to production instruments as well as social classes and their relationships. Progress is based on “real individuals, their activity, and material conditions under which they live (Marx & Engels 1970, 42). The mode of production determines the social and political processes and the development of the base leads to evolution of the state. This is used to explain how society progressed from feudal to capitalism system of economy and how it will progress into communism. The theory is also based on the principle of surplus value. Labor productivity due to improved forces of production and division of labor leads to production of surplus which benefits only the capitalist. This leads to class divisions with the majority (Proletariats) spending their time working and the minority (Bourgeoisie) appropriate the surplus and do not engage in productive labor (Marx & Engels, 27). This in turn leads to class antagonisms which give rise to a state whose role is to intervene. However, the state ends up taking care of the interests of the capitalists and later expropriates the capitalists for the good of all citizens. The capital of the bourgeois is accumulated wage labor since it is gained from appropriation of surplus value (Marx & Engel, 26). The capitalist through accumulation of capital from surplus value acquire property (capital) while the proletariats only get enough for subsistence. Proletariats do not have any property; the only property they had which is labor belongs to the capitalist as they are alienated from labor and its products. To gain more surplus value, workers are required to work for a longer day or their productivity is increased through use of technology (Marx & Engels, 37). The bourgeois and proletariat classes are transformed into property and propertyless classes. All these components come together to explain social development and are entailed in a document written by Marx and Engels in 1848 known as the Communist Manifesto. As stated earlier, the manifesto explains the development of capitalism and how it would get destroyed by its own weapons; Marx sees capitalism as raising its own gravediggers (Marx & Engel, 22). Capitalism provides proletariats with knowledge, education and technology which are going to be used by proletariats in future to destroy capitalists. Not only will exploitation of individuals or workers end, but also exploitation of poor nations by rich nations since the working men will transcend national boundaries. However, all this is based on the assumption that once capitalism is overthrown, a way must be opened for communist development. According to the communist manifesto, “the history of existing societies is the history of class struggles” (Marx & Engels, 6). Before inception of capitalism there were struggles between the freeman and slaves, lords and serfs and guild masters and journey men. Capitalism was thus no exception when it produced the capitalists and proletariats. These class antagonisms always end in a revolution and societal change. Capitalism was a result of destruction of the feudal society. The mode of production present in feudal society changed and so is the society itself. Instead of manufacturing, in came the factory system which was exploitative of workers and had poor working conditions such as overcrowding. Transformation of money and commodities according to Marx (ch. 26) requires fulfillment of one condition, that is, the existence of two kinds of commodity-possessors who must come into contact; the capitalists or owners of means of production and whose aim is to increase their values through buying labor and the free laborers who are sellers of own labor power. An assumption is made that alienation of laborers from the means of production is the only way they can agree to sell their labor. This development on one hand means freedom from serfdom and on the other hand, separation from means of production. This according to Marx is the basis of the whole developmental process from feudalism to capitalism. According to Marx and Engels (16) the proletariats undergo through various developmental stages. Assuming that development of one mode of production to another is a result of class struggles, the first stage in the development of a proletariat is the struggle between an individual laborer and the capitalist in the quest to restore the conditions of the previous state however, every victory in this stage goes to the capitalist. As industry develops workers gain some commonality due to their conditions of employment. Capital accumulation also leads to increased competition among bourgeoisies which workers take advantage of to form associations (18). Since every struggle is a political struggle, the organization of proletarians leads to formation of a political party with more power. The bourgeois is forced to seek help from laborers to deal with competitors thus providing them with tools of destruction. As such, Marx views capitalists as producing own gravediggers therefore, “its fall and the victory of the proletariat are inevitable” (22). This will lead to formation of new mode of production regarded as communism whereby private property (capital) will be abolished. Marx envisages a situation where labor will be free and national differences will cease. These national differences are a result of capital accumulation by nations through national debt which is paid by laborers through taxes. For Marx, “as the nation becomes richer, the more deeply it is in debt” (ch. 31). Although this debt is used to advance the economy, it is the working class who suffer by repaying debts while the capitalist get more profit from the debt. Communism will ensure countries are self-sufficient thus no exploitation of some nations by others. This development theory by Marx has various strengths. The theory is vital in explaining how societies or economies develop. Based on the idea that the mode of production determines society relations and that the forces of production will destroy the existing mode of production and lead to emergence of new mode just like new machinery and industrialization destroyed the feudal system, then the capitalist system is not an end in history but will also be replaced (Marx & Engel, 37). Since the communist manifesto was written in 1848, many changes that were envisaged by Marx have occurred although the final aim of destroying capitalism is far from being achieved. The working class has gained a lot of power in recent years through formation of trade unions and political parties such as the labor party to fight for their rights. There is also increased technology (improved forces of production) that is altering the mode of production. Laborers have more options than to sell their wage labor to capitalist but have also become petty capitalists who employ themselves by use of technology. Besides, they do not have to be subjected to the factory system as they can work anywhere and at any time. The theory is vital in explaining the continuous conflicts over working hours in industries. To get more surplus value, capitalists engage workers in more working hours or overtime hours and the workers on the other hand demand shorter working hours thus resulting in conflict. In many countries such as the UK, the state has established the length of working day while in the US it is still a contention due to ‘free at will’ employment not guided by a contract. Working lengthy hours doing monotonous job due to division of labor turns men into machines and makes work uninteresting (Friedrich & Engel, section III). The theory is also efficient in explaining why wealth is concentrated in few hands. There is a lot of competition in the market and those companies which have accumulated a lot of capital are able to use all means to ensure the small firms or new entrants to the market are pushed away. Companies grow into multinational companies thereby taking advantage of economies of scale and frustrating young industries. The government in its attempt to curb monopoly power enters the market to provide essential services and also expropriates the capitalists (Marx, ch 31). Despite its strengths, the theory also has its own weaknesses. First is the assumption that the fall of capitalism and the victory of the proletariat are inevitable (Marx & Engels, 22). Though capitalism is exploitative of the worker, it does not mean that the workers will always revolt against it since it also has advantages. Most capitalist countries have developed a welfare system for its workers thus assisting them to deal with problems besides; it provides them with the means of existence. The trade unions are also critical of capitalist and have been able to negotiate with them for better terms and conditions hence the fall of capitalism is not inevitable. Another weakness of the theory is that it was written for specific period in history when revolutions were the order of the day. Today, various classes of people coexist without necessarily having to be in conflict or struggle with each other as Marx indicated. It is also evident that capitalism though has provided workers with advanced tools or forces of production, education and enlightenment; it has not yet produced its own grave diggers. Workers still work in industries at their own volition and receive wages for their work without turning against their employers. According to Friedrich and Marx (Section IV) a high proportion of the population is employed in industries several decades after the manifesto was written. Another significant weakness of the development theory is its assumption that the destruction of capitalism will necessarily lead to emergence of communism (Marx & Engels, 28). The destruction of capitalism might lead to other systems such as new forms of socialist state. According to Friedrich & Marx (Section, IV) it all depends on political action through which this change came about. Furthermore, time has shown that the proletariat class is not always revolutionary. Some laborers get accustomed to this system of exploitation and endless accumulation and consider it as a norm. As such, it is highly unlikely that the capitalist system will be destroyed soon or that communism will emerge as the dominant mode of production. The theory also fails to account for the workers who have developed into capitalists. The theory assumes capital is accumulated in the hands of the few and that laborers have no property and only work to get a means of subsistence. It is evident that some laborers get more wages than they need for existence which they accumulate and establish factories whereby they accumulate capital and the cycle of exploitation continues. Conclusion Marxist theory of development is based on the materialistic conception of history whereby historical processes determine the economic system in place. The theory is convincing on various issues but it cannot lack some defects. I feel that the capitalist system in place is exploitative of workers. Most multinational companies aiming at increasing profits through labor but with reduced costs outsource work to regions where labor conditions are favorable. For example, most sweatshops producing garments are situated in Asian countries and also developing countries where labor is cheap; there is a reserve army of labor waiting thus pushing wages down. Most of the workers work for long hours and by the end of the day they just get enough for subsistence and not more to save and acquire property. In most countries, the workers continue working hard while the capitalists eat the fruits of their labor and even end up paying national debts aimed at sustaining the capitalists through income taxes. Look at the financial crisis of 2007-08 many financial institutions were bailed out through tax money to enable the owners continue with business. The dominant classes are also able to control the politics. Due to their power, they have the ability to push for their interests and convince the government to adopt certain policies especially in the developing countries. The development in forces of production have also revolutionalised work processes and led to increased division of labor and increased productivity. However, the surplus value in form of profits goes to the owners while workers continue working a normal working day with no extra wages. However, the theory does not explain how the working class will be emancipated. There is no sign of a revolution by the working class that will lead to abolishment of property. The workers are contented doing their work at prevailing wages hence are not a revolutionary group. Workers still work according to abilities and not according to needs as predicted by Marx. References Friedrich, E., Marx, K. The Communist Manifesto: A modern Edition, 2012. Marx, K. Capital: A Critique of Political Economy, Volume I. Trans. S. Moore & E. Aveling, 1999. http://www.marxist.org/archive/marx/works/1867-c1/ch26.html. Accessed 16 November, 2012. Marx, K., Engel, F. The German Ideology: Part One with selections from Part 2 and 3. International publishers, 1970. Marx, K., Engel, F. The Communist Manifesto: Complete with Seven Rarely Published Prefaces, 2005. Read More