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UPSC Notes on Marxism
Marxism is one of the significant theory in Political Science. Here in this article of UPSC Notes on Marxism we will discus Marxism in a detailed manner.
Marxist Tradition of Political Science/ Marxism
Marxism derives its name from that of Karl Marx (1818-83), a famous German economist and social philosopher of the 19th century who is the chief exponent of this theory. It is also called as Marxian socialism or communism. Engels, Lenin, Stalin, and Mao also are the other exponents of Marxism.
According to Marx state is an instrument of exploitation in the hands of the ‘haves’ by which they exploit the ‘have-nots. The government is regarded as the handiwork of the rich, which uses state power for serving the interests of the haves. Society is divided into 2 types one is capitalist which owns the means of production or haves and another is proletariat or have-nots which sells labour for earning the livelihood. Man is regarded as the economic man who is always in the process of fulfilling his material needs.
According to Marxism, politics is an aspect of economic relations. It includes all social, political and cultural relations of man on the basis of economic relation.
Main Tenets of Marxism:-
Main tenets of classical Marxism are – Dialectical Materialism, Historical Materialism, The doctrine of Class Struggle, Theory of Surplus Value and Concept of Alienation.
Dialectical materialism
Marx borrowed his dialectical method from German philosopher G.W.F Hegel (1770-1831).According to Hegel ‘idea’ or ‘consciousness’ was the essence of the universe and all institutions were the manifestations of changing forms of the idea. Hegel has given the concept of the clash between a thesis (partial truth) and antithesis (opposite of the thesis) resulting in synthesis, which is nearer to the truth.
On the contrary, Marx believed in ‘matter’, not in the idea was the essence of the universe, and the social institutions were the manifestation of changing material conditions. The matter is the main driving force behind all manifestations of social change. Marx developed the theory of ‘materialism’ against Hegel’s theory of ‘idealism’.
Historical Materialism
Historical materialism is known as a materialistic interpretation of history. According to Marx, the determining factor of the development of history is the productive forces. The material or economic factor is mainly responsible for all historical changes.
Marx interpreted all historical events by means of the materialistic interpretation of history. According to him all political institutions, social systems, trade, industry, art and craft, customs and practices, traditions, religion and every aspect of the life of any country or of any age are determined by the material conditions prevailing there. All the social and political revolutions described in history are determined by the material conditions of life. According to him, all historical events are basically determined by the changes in the economic spheres. Man’s conduct is determined not by the ideas of ethics, religion or nationalism, but by the economic conditions and the changes in the means of production modify the form of life.
The doctrine of class struggle
Class struggle or class conflict is an integral part of historical materialism which was clearly elaborated in Marx’s Communist Manifesto(1848). According to Marx in every society in every age there exist two conflicting economic classes. The economically strong class has a tendency to exploit the poorer class. According to him, world history can be interpreted as on the basis of class struggle.
History gives many examples that two classes constantly clash to possess economic and political power and this clash even continue till today. In ancient slave-owning society was characterized by the class conflict between master and slave; between lord and serf in medieval feudal society; and modern society, by the class conflict between the bourgeoisie (capitalist) and proletariat (workers).
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The main features of the present struggle which is between the capitalist and the working class are fighting a frontal battle with all their power. Marx concluded that the result of the organized struggle of the working class against the capitalist would be the victory of the working class, end of capitalism and establishment of the dictatorship of the proletariat. It will be the rule of the working class. It will be the rule of one class only and this will pave the way for the emergence of a classless society which will mark the end of class conflict.
Theory of surplus-value
The theory of surplus-value has been explained by Marx in his book ‘Das Capital’. Surplus value according to Marx is the difference between the value of wages which labour produces and which he actually receives. The capitalist does not give just wages to the workers. They pay according to their will and monopolize the profit.
According to Marx, the actual price of a commodity is determined by the cost of labour. But the market value of the commodity is higher. Thus the difference between the actual price and the market price of a commodity is the profit monopolized by the capitalist as ‘surplus value’. In practice, surplus value is that value which the capitalist earns through the labour of the workers, but denies them of any share. This theory of Marx based on Recardo’s ‘Labour Theory of Value’.
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Concept of Alienation
Alienation means the process of depersonalization; separation. Alienation is the process whereby, under capitalism, labour is reduced to being a mere commodity, and works become a depersonalized activity. In this view, workers are alienated from the product of their labour, from fellow workers, and ultimately from themselves as creative and social beings.
Conclusion
Marxism has been criticized for major reasons like accepting classless and stateless society as the result class struggle which is criticized by the contemporaries because creating classless and stateless society has no relevance and it also a myth in 21st century. In spite of all, Marxism has a lot of relevance in modern society and it is always studied as a significant theory of political science.