Marxs Conception Of Class Conflict Within Capitalism

Marx’s conception of class conflict within capitalism.

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Marx’s conception of class conflict within capitalism.

Introduction.

One of the most powerful sociological explanations of social conflict was advanced by

Karl Marx. He demonstrated a class struggle between classes intrinsic to capitalists. The notion

is dynamic and appears to fit well with the history. It provides a description and seeks to explain

the contemporary problems and possible remedy (Mosco 2014, pg.41). The political divide evident

in many countries is seen as a fight between those who have and those who don’t. One group

feels exploited by the political establishments whereas political establishments try its level best

to gain support from the other group by constantly reminding them what they have achieved in

the past. Marx saw this kind of conflict and named it as the class struggle.

Marx’s class definition.

According to Marx, the structure of society was viewed based on its major classes. The

struggle between the classes was the driving force for the change in the societal structure. He

viewed class as the manifestation of economic differentiation (Block 1977, pg.25). People in the

same class usually have the same socioeconomic status which is based on property ownership,

income and living standards. He defined a class as a group of people identified and distinguished

from one another based on their relations to the economic means of production. Economic means

of production are factors of production owned by the few people against many (Mosco 2014,

pg.41). These include land, machinery, tools, skills and technology that aids production process.

Status of each class was not a factor of racial or ethnic complexion. Status was defined by the

ability or the inability of individuals in a group to gain political or economic power. The group

that had power did everything possible to retain the power by constantly keeping the other group

Marx’s conception of class conflict within capitalism.

in a state of powerlessness (Giddens et al. 1973, pg.43). Those who had no power were exploited

by the powerful. One class appropriate the work of the other class by the difference in the social

economy position.

The general level of material and property possession has progressed for a long time.

Earliest human societies used primitive methods of material production. Relations of production

were based on common ownership of factors of production. Relations among members of the

society was based on cooperation and assistance (Gibson-Graham 1997 pg.187). Exploitation did

not exist in such a time because the tools used were simple and could be easily reproduced and

production level was low. It was aimed at meeting the subsistence needs hence it was a

relationship of no servant, no master.

In the next stage of the historical revolution, advancement in the material production was

evident. Man improved his primitive tools. This development paved the way for the change in

the relations of production (Poulantzas et al. 1973, pg.201). The relationship was based on absolute

ownership of means of production. Slaves were only provided with the necessities to prevent

them from starvation. This marked the origin of exploitation by man and the history of class

struggle. Due to the expansion of social production, slaves were forced to increase their

productivity (Block 1977, pg. 25). Slaves lacked interest in this as it would not improve their

positions. Slaves demonstrated against their masters paving the way to the feudal system.

Dominance in private property was in the form of estates (Mosco 2014, pg.41). The feudal system

was made up of the nobility and the serfs. The bourgeoisie revolution marked the beginning of

new sets of production. The modern form of production took shape and the produce for mainly

for sale. Class relations in this stage included the bourgeoisie who owns the factors of production

Marx’s conception of class conflict within capitalism.

and the proletariat who did not own any property and therefore must sell their labor power to the

capitalists.

Classification of classes.

Karl Marx believed that in every system there were two major classes of people based on

the ownership of property. These were the proletariats and the bourgeoisie. Property ownership

led to the difference in the social, political, legal and economical roles of individuals in the

society. Bourgeoisie is the owners of factors of production. They are also referred to as

capitalists (Giddens et al. 1973, pg.43). They exploited the labor power by using the surplus from

their production to accumulate or expand their capital. Proletariats, on the other hand, are mere

owners of labor power. They have no power to own property. They don’t have any resource but

to work with their minds, hands and bodies. Their only means of survival is to find employment

from a capitalist employer who uses them in an exploitative manner (Gibson-Graham 1997 pg.187).

Workers didn’t sell their labor by choice but to obtain means of subsistence. The mode of

production drains workers of its intrinsic value and workers were just seen as the extension of

factors of production. The only drive that consent that kept workers in this kind of labor relations

was the need to secure means of subsistence.

Marx’s conception of class conflict within capitalism.

Exploitation.

Previous modes of production were characterized by the explicit inequality between the

dominant class (citizens, nobility) and the subordinates (Slaves, serfs). Bourgeoisie mode of

production tries to eliminate this kind of relationship by replacing it with the self-interested

exchange of market (Poulantzas et al. 1973, pg.201). The market brings together the owners of

factors of production and those of labor power into supposedly self-interested equals who can

freely choose to exchange commodities in a free market.

Although the market exchange in the bourgeoisie production appears to be fair, it is still

characterized by the impurity in the relations of production. The owner of factors of production

is not seen to be purchasing labor but rather the labor power which refers to the ability to

undertake certain value producing skills (Mosco 2014, pg.41). The worker is paid a fair wage

which is lower than the value of her labor power. A worker produces more value per unit time

which does not reflect in the wage he/she receives. The result results produced by the labor

power in a day is worth more than the daily cost of labor wage.

The surplus value obtained from production is appropriated by the owner of factors of

production. This belongs to him in the essence that he owns the factors of production. Workers

produced surplus wealth, but they did not enjoy because it was seized by owners of factors of

production as profit for their private use (Block 1977, pg. 25). This is the meaning of exploitative

nature of capitalist relations of production. According to Marx, exploitation was not as a result

of unfair wage, and there it cannot be corrected by just increasing the wage rate. He believed that

exploitation lied in the appropriation of the surplus value. The reason why this mode of

production is unjust is that of the owners of factors of production who accrue wealth based on

Marx’s conception of class conflict within capitalism.

the appropriated labor of the hired workers. The appearance of the market exchange to be

straightforward is the secret success of capitalism.

Alienation.

To ensure maximum utility of the labor power, the capitalists maintain total control over

the work process. Labor was categorized as an extension of means of production. No regard was

given to the subjective experience of the laborer. Work appeared as a mindless and repetitive

routine. Working conditions were too dangerous for some workers who made workers see work

as an oppressive force (Mosco 2014, pg.41). The intrinsic value of labor to the laborer was robbed

as it was stripped of all the creativity and integrity. Workers were separated and alienated from

their labor. Workers had no control over the production process and lacked the motivation to

work except for the need to earn a living. Workers lacked the joy of the final product (Poulantzas

et al. 1973, pg.201). Workers were also alienated from each other because they enter the exchange

market individually and therefore does not recognize labor to be a social relation but a

transaction of two equal objects.

Class consciousness.

Class consciousness results from the socioeconomic conditions. Political ideas, mentality,

religion and morality, are established by the material aspect of individuals. The dominant

ideology in the society is the one preached by the dominant class, the capitalists. Marx linked

ideological sphere to the ownership of factors of production (Block 1977, pg.25). Those who had

those factors had the ideological power at their disposal. Increased alienation and exploitation of

workers led to increased consciousness among the members of the proletariat class. A swelling

Marx’s conception of class conflict within capitalism.

wealth of the bourgeoisie due to large profits corresponded to increased poverty, exploitation,

slavery and pressure among the proletariats.

Awareness of the material misery and alienation of workers leads to transformation of a

class-in-itself to a class-for-itself. Workers will change from a group of exploited and oppressed

into a class which is fully aware of its goals, societal role and the political power. The growth of

consciousness among the working class increased their solidarity (Giddens et al. 1973, pg.43). It

became internally more homogeneous which intensified the class struggle. Workers were able to

form unions to curb exploitation from the capitalists. Workers collectively fought for decent

wages and conducive working environments. They form associations which made provisions for

occasional revolts which saw the contests broke into riots (Gibson-Graham 1997 pg.187). Marx

believed that constant growth of class awareness would one day do away with injustice and

exploitation.

Revolution.

At some point in the development stage, the material productive force of the society will

come into conflict with the existing relations. Marx believed that at the highest level of class

struggle, violent revolution would break out and this will lead to the destruction of the capitalist

society. Revolution will most probably occur at the peak of economic crisis as suggested by

Marx. The fight will see capitalists grow fewer and stronger because of the endless competition

from the proletariat (Mosco 2014, pg.41). The middle class will be forced to join the working

class, and the increasing poverty of the workers will initiate a successful revolution. The

proletariat has to be guided by the political party with indispensable scientific doctrine in its

fight. Marx advocated that proletariats should not engage in a war which they are used as

Marx’s conception of class conflict within capitalism.

weapons (Poulantzas et al. 1973, pg.201). All actions which are against the unity of revolutionary

and development of better relations of production should be declined.

Communism.

Marx believed that revolution would usher in a new system with new production

relations. Revolution will do away with the capitalist society paving the way for communism.

The bourgeoisie will be deprived political power and will be reduced to the ranks of proletariats.

This historical revolution liquidates and destroys the bourgeoisie (Block 1977, pg. 25). Proletariats

will then have a chance to establish their social dictatorship. In this type of society, factors of

production will be public but not privately owned. Society will be free from class categorization,

and there will be no form of exploitation (Gibson-Graham 1997 pg.187). Factors of production are

collectively owned, and each contributes to production according to his ability.

Conclusion.

Marx advanced one of the sociological explanation of social conflict between classes in

the society. He defined classes based on the ownership of the factors of production and came up

with two classes, the bourgeoisie and the proletariats. The earlier owned the factors of production

while the latter offered labor to get daily wages to satisfy their basic needs (Mosco 2014, pg.41).

Capitalists exploited the workers by paying wages which were not proportional to the value of

their labor. Despite the exploitation, workers were compelled to work under extremely

unfavorable conditions to satisfy their subsistence needs. Workers had no appropriation in the

surplus they produced (Poulantzas et al. 1973, pg.201). It was seized by the capitalist as profit

which should be used for capital expansion.

Marx’s conception of class conflict within capitalism.

Furthermore, workers were exempted from controlling the production process. Alienation

and exploitation of workers led to increased class consciousness. Workers got to understand the

role of the society and the formed unions which protected their interest. This led to proletarian

revolution aimed at destroying the superstructure which was established to guard the interests of

the owners of factors of production (Poulantzas et al. 1973, pg.201). Workers grew stronger

because the middle-level class was forced to join the proletariats. Unity and strength of the

workers led to a successful revolution and establishment of a free classless society. Capitalists

will be deprived of political power and reduced to levels of proletariats. Factors of production

will be owned collectively, and individuals will contribute and get paid according to their ability

(Gibson-Graham pg. 1997. Workers will also have a chance to establish their social dictatorship.

References

Block, F., 1977. The ruling class does not rule: Notes on the Marxist theory of the state. Socialist

Revolution, 33(7), pp.6-28.

Gibson-Graham, J.K., 1997. The end of capitalism (as we knew it): A feminist critique of political

economy. Capital & Class, 21(2), pp.186-188

Giddens, A. and Giddens, A., 1973. The class structure of the advanced societies (p. 43). London:

Hutchinson.

Mosco, V., 2014. Political Economy. In The Routledge Companion to Global Popular Culture (pp. 35-44).

Routledge.

Poulantzas, N. and O'Hagan, T., 1973. Political power and social classes (pp. 195-224). London:

Marx’s conception of class conflict within capitalism.

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