Class Struggle

Definition

Class struggle is a Marxist concept that describes the inherent conflict between the bourgeoisie, or the owners of the means of production, and the proletariat, or the working class. This conflict arises from the exploitation of the proletariat by the bourgeoisie, who seek to maximize profits by paying workers less than the full value of their labor.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. According to Marxism, class struggle is the driving force behind social and political change, leading to the eventual overthrow of the bourgeoisie by the proletariat.
2. The bourgeoisie maintain their power through the control of the means of production, political institutions, and the media, which they use to perpetuate the existing social order.
3. The proletariat, as the majority class, have the potential to organize and unite to challenge the power of the bourgeoisie and establish a socialist or communist society.
4. Class struggle is not limited to the economic realm but also manifests in social, cultural, and ideological domains, as the bourgeoisie and proletariat compete to shape the dominant values and norms of society.
5. Marxists believe that the resolution of class struggle will lead to the establishment of a classless society, where the means of production are collectively owned and the exploitation of the proletariat is eliminated.

Review Questions

• Explain the Marxist perspective on the role of class struggle in driving social and political change.
  • According to Marxism, class struggle is the fundamental driver of social and political change. The inherent conflict between the bourgeoisie, who own the means of production, and the proletariat, who must sell their labor to the bourgeoisie, creates an ongoing tension that ultimately leads to the overthrow of the existing social order. Marxists believe that the proletariat, as the majority class, have the potential to organize and unite to challenge the power of the bourgeoisie, leading to the establishment of a socialist or communist society where the means of production are collectively owned and the exploitation of the proletariat is eliminated.
• Describe the ways in which the bourgeoisie maintain their power and perpetuate the existing social order.
  • The bourgeoisie maintain their power and perpetuate the existing social order through a variety of means. They control the means of production, which gives them economic power and the ability to exploit the labor of the proletariat. They also wield significant political influence, using their wealth and resources to shape policies and institutions in their favor. Additionally, the bourgeoisie control the media and cultural institutions, which they use to propagate their own values and norms, and to marginalize or suppress the perspectives of the proletariat. This multi-faceted control allows the bourgeoisie to maintain their dominant position in society and resist challenges to their power.
• Analyze the potential for the proletariat to organize and unite in order to challenge the power of the bourgeoisie and establish a classless society.
  • Marxists believe that the proletariat, as the majority class, have the potential to organize and unite in order to challenge the power of the bourgeoisie and establish a classless society. By recognizing their shared interests and collective strength, the proletariat can overcome the divisions and false consciousness that the bourgeoisie use to maintain their dominance. Through collective action, such as strikes, protests, and political mobilization, the proletariat can disrupt the economic and social systems that sustain the bourgeoisie's power. Ultimately, Marxists argue that the successful resolution of class struggle will lead to the abolition of private property, the collective ownership of the means of production, and the creation of a society free from exploitation and class-based oppression.

Related terms

Bourgeoisie:

The social class that owns the means of production and employs the proletariat to generate profit.

Proletariat:

The social class that owns no means of production and must sell their labor to the bourgeoisie in exchange for wages.

Exploitation: The act of utilizing the labor of the proletariat for the benefit of the bourgeoisie, without fair compensation.