This essay will seek to legitimize the belief that Marx would uphold the idea that political protest always improves society, through an analysis of the three primary aspects of Marxism. It will begin by establishing an understanding of Marx material and dialectical concept of history as the root of social exploitation and the predecessor of capitalist society. It will then move onto a critique of capitalism using the concept of alienation to prove why, on a social psychological level, change is necessary to improve society. Finally, it will discuss Marx advocacy of proletarian revolution and the inevitability of class struggle, both of which solidify his theory of historiography and economic profit as the forces that drive society. Firstly then, we must begin with an …show more content…
He furthers this argument by claiming that his materialist conception of history transcends into social consciousness. Marx views history through a dialectical lense and uses his theory of historical materialism as a fundamental pillar in his social philosophies. The Marxist view of history as “material” challenged the Hegelian beliefs of his time by proposing that history results from matter and material goods, rather than on ideological fallacies like religion and fate. “The history of all hitherto existing society is the history of class struggles” (Marx, the Communist Manifesto) This statement is important for two reasons. First, it encompases Marx theory of a “base and superstructure.” His theory holds that changes in the mode of production, or the economic base of society create change in the superstructure of the political system. Marx sees a two essential forces as shaping history. Using a methodological approach Marx’s historiography distinguishes between the “means of production”, or the actual materials need for production and the social relationships individuals enter into