ipl-logo

Contribution Of Marxist Analysis

1792 Words8 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Karl marx views on communism

The body of work produced by Karl Marx during his life in the eighteenth century is primarily an explication of the Capitalist mode of production. Through his development of a thorough analysis of the workings of the system, Marx delved into the structures of the economic system and found it to be inherently qualified by contradictions. It is the aim of this essay to present the structures, as extant in Marx’s analysis, and subsequently examine what these contradictions are and how they operate in the function and dysfunction of Capitalist society. The analysis will take the form of a detailed exploration of several interpretations of Marx himself, and Marxist thought as it has developed over the last two centuries. Finally, a connection will …show more content…

To properly outline the structural components of Capitalism, one must begin with its smallest functional unit founded in the material world – the commodity. As Capitalism is a system orientated towards wealth (Marsh, 1996), the commodity’s being ‘the elementary form of Capitalist wealth’ (Mandel, 1976), means that true clarity can only be achieved by understanding such an entity. They are such entities which, in primitive society, operated as subsistence objects, produced for the survival of humans (Ritzer, 2000). The extent to which the commodity achieves this, the amount it can function in the process of use, is known as ‘use-value’ (Best, 2003). However, under Capitalist production, the commodity takes on a monetary value, an ‘exchange value’ (Best, …show more content…

The major structural contradictions can be identified in the issue of commodity value (Best, 2003), class conflict and exploitation (Marsh, 1996) and the effects this has on the worker (Harlambos & Holborn, 2008). Marx argues that use-value is the only significant worth of a product, however, the Capitalist society has conflated this with exchange value – a worth based on abstract market fluctuations rather than material reality (Best, 2003). As the exchange value is not set, it is only the realisation of profits – of the difference between labour costs and the amount paid for the commodity – that benefit the Capitalist. This creates a situation where the Capitalist is over reliant on an unstable situation (Best, 2003). Herein lies one of the foundational contradictions of Capitalism to which Marx accredits the system’s over all

Show More
Related
735 Words | 3 Pages

This can be understood as a metaphor asserting that the base of society keeps every other aspect running smoothly. It is important to note that in the preface of A Critique of Political Economy, Marx failed to sate a clear difference between a commodities exchange value and use value (McIntosh 1997). This distinction is the basis for how we determine value and is an essential part of the social economic

Read More
1385 Words | 6 Pages

Marx believes that people in a capitalist society become enraptured by the system of commodities. For example, Marx’s ideas on the commodification of labor show how the individual, as a worker, becomes enraptured by the capitalist system of production, and accepts his role in the system. He writes, “The workers exchange their commodity, labour, for the commodity of the capitalist, for money, and this exchange takes place in a definite ratio”” (Marx, in Calhoun, p. 122). Marx believes that workers become captivated because they fetishize the commodification process to the extent that they view themselves and others through the lenses of commodities.

Read More
705 Words | 3 Pages

When the modern capitalist society has emerged, capitalism has massively impacted on many social aspects. The system had led to the dissolution and to an end of the Feudal system during the Middle Ages. There are many political thoughts, which consisted of significant frameworks for reforming and making some new changes to the society. This essay will mainly focus on two main political ideologies and identify the differences between these two houses, which are Marx and Mussolini. First, the German thinker, Marx, and a letter called “ Manifesto of the Communist Party”, bring about the concept of communism that was being used in many areas back in the olden days.

Read More
1297 Words | 6 Pages

The premises presented by Karl Marx on his manuscript were genuinely with accord to the ordeal of the workers as they lose themselves in the hands of the capitalists. But, as we stated in the first part of this paper, we think there is a flaw in his second premise, the estrangement of the worker from the activity production. We believe that labor done by workers - explicitly those who take pleasure in doing their job- doesn’t necessarily imply that everything that they do is not out of their essential being primarily because they love what they do, and any work that is done out of passion and love comes from the essential being of a

Read More
1199 Words | 5 Pages

Adam Smith, an advocate of capitalism, in his book, The Wealth of Nations wrote that all individuals are selfish and by performing to the best of their capabilities towards their own selfish interests they contribute towards the nation’s collective growth. Karl Marx, on the other hand criticized capitalism and believed that socialism and communism are society’s best chance of maximizing individual happiness, about which he wrote in his book Das Kapital. In this paper, we will compare and contrast the economics theories of Adam Smith and Karl Marx on the lines of labor theory of value, division of labor, alienation of workers from labor and human happiness and surplus profit and its social implications. This paper will also discuss how… Adam Smith believes that there are two types of ‘values’ of a commodity – ‘utility value’ and ‘exchange value’. The utility value of a commodity is based on how useful a commodity is and the exchange value of a commodity refers to how much we can get in exchange for a commodity if we were to sell it.

Read More
814 Words | 4 Pages

The main concept of alienated labor was developed by Karl Marx in his early work Economic and Philosophical Manuscripts from 1844 - First Manuscript [Estranged Labor]. As defined, the concept of alienation is profoundly embedded in religions and social and political theories, the possibility that some time in the past individuals feeling like foreigners in the world, however, sooner or later this distance would be overcome and humankind would again harmony with itself and Nature (Encyclopedia of Marxism). Formed from Private Property, the political economy that is Capitalism divided society into two classes¬ - Property owners and Property-Less workers. By exploitation and estrangement, these classes become further designated as masters

Read More
1337 Words | 6 Pages

The Industrial Revolution cast its shadow upon European cities and towns. Some enjoyed this shade while others suffered tremendously because of it. Those who enjoyed the luxuries and wealth that the Industrial Revolution provided, the bourgeoisie, depended on the needs of the poor, the proletarians, to increase the size of their monstrous factories and ultimately their wealth and influence. In “The Communist Manifesto” Karl Marx discusses the effects of the Industrial Revolution in further dividing society by creating new social and economic hierarchies. In addition to his observation of the division of labor, Karl Marx believed, that due to the technological shift from craftsmanship to machinery this also caused division of labor and the appreciation of proletarian handmade goods was disregarded.

Read More
951 Words | 4 Pages

Industrialization also enhanced the capitalism which is focused on the issue of more profit and conflict between capital and workers. While owner of productions take more profit with less labor, workers take less profit even with much more labor force. Karl Marx is one of the thinkers who criticizes this situation of capitalism in terms of workers and capitals in industry, especially he focuses on the situation of

Read More
1790 Words | 8 Pages

The Shakers were optimistic and uncompromising individuals whose achievement in the end turned into their demise. Shakers shaped abstinent and radical groups with a way of life that was entirely controlled through an arrangement of directions actualized by Elders. Under such thorough administration, Shaker’s people group advanced into exceptionally requested, gainful, and productive social orders. These qualities pulled in individuals to Shakerism, at the same time, once they got to be Shakers, a large number of them discovered their lives excessively organized and controlled, making it impossible to manage. This prompted the consequent decrease of Shakerism.

Read More
1543 Words | 7 Pages

Andre Abi Haidar PSPA 210 INTRODUCTION It is always difficult to write about and discuss Karl Marx, or more importantly the applications of Marx’s theories, due to the fact that he inspired and gave rise to many movements and revolutionaries, not all of which follow his theories to the point. Although Marx tends to be equated with Communism, it might not seem righteous to blame him for whatever shortcomings occurred when his theories were put to the test; Marx passed away well before the revolution in Russia, and he played no role in the emergence of the totalitarian regime at the time. When discussing Marx, however, Vladimir Lenin is one of the biggest highlights when it comes to studying the outcomes of Marx’s theories.

Read More
926 Words | 4 Pages

It is argued that social inequality occurs because of the conflict between the upper-class and the working-class, or as Marx defines it, the Bourgeoisie and the Proletariat. Based on the Manifesto of the Communist Party (Marx and Engels, 1848), the divergence emerges because the aim of the Bourgeoisie is to obtain a surplus-value that is produced by the work of the Proletariat. On the other side, the Bourgeoisie provides the Proletariat with the minimum required, such as a place to live and a minimum wage, in order to keep the society under control and avoid a rebellion. However, Marx did predict a revolt of the working-class that would eventually lead to a communist regime. When it comes to applying this theoretical approach to reality, it is evident to notice that no global revolt in regards to capitalism has occurred.

Read More
908 Words | 4 Pages

According to Indergraard (2007), industrialization is “the process by which an economy shifts from an agricultural to a manufacturing base during a period of sustained change and growth, eventually creating a higher standard of living”. Within sociology, the three founding fathers, particularly Karl Marx and Émile Durkheim, were interested in studying what the causes of industrialization and the consequences of it on the development of society. This essay will compare the ways in which Marx and Durkheim shared similar ideas about industrialisation within society as well as contrast the aspects of their theories which have different ideological roots and conclusions. The essay with then go on to conclude that whilst there were some key differences

Read More
759 Words | 4 Pages

He argues that with all the pressures of class conflict and the imbalance of capitalism there is no way that this pattern can continue without a major revolution. Marx compares capitalism to anarchy, in the sense that there is no organization within which only causes chaos. The common pattern of capitalism is a boom followed by a bust, and that bust leads to recession and social unrest. This sort of fickle economy, Marx believes, will furthermore contribute to the downfall of capitalism. This socialist revolution would, “abolish private ownership of key elements of economy and change nature of relationships from ones based on marriage and property.”

Read More
1074 Words | 5 Pages

The key concepts that I will discuss in this assignment are the theories and ideas of Karl Marx on Alienation, Exploitation, Materialism and Class struggle. The objective of this assignment is to examine the literature written about Karl Marx in order to clearly present his main ideas and theories in relation to work and capital. In the second part of my assignment I will discuss what relevance these theories and ideas have in today’s world. Karl Heinrich Marx the philosopher and revolutionary socialist was born on the 5th of May 1818 and died on the 14th of March 1883. He was born in the city of Trier in Germany and studied law in Bonn University.

Read More
1172 Words | 5 Pages

Marx maintained that the fundamental reality of history and modern society is a conflict between the classes. The haves use every tool available, including coercion and ideology, to sustain their advantageous position over the have not’s (Roberts, 1990). Understanding modern industrial society does not necessitate an analysis of cultural values and beliefs. The basic issue is economic conflict. Hence, Marx is often identified as the father of modern conflict theory (Roberts, 1990).

Read More

More about Contribution Of Marxist Analysis

Related Topics

Open Document