Marx's Historical Materialism

Essay # 52124

Political Science > Communism
Political Science > Non-U.S.
Political Science > Political Theory

An examination of the theories of capitalism and materialism according to Marx. Focusing on the modes of production.

1,019 words () | 4 sources | APA | 2001 Canada

Paper Summary:

Through the theory of historical materialism. Marx illustrates that social organizations are not natural, they are shaped by modes of production. This paper explains how he identifies five changes in the mode of production: The primitive community, the slave state, the feudal state, capitalism and socialism. It argues that the class struggle is particular only to the existing capitalist system. Historical materialism explains why class societies and class struggles arose in history and why they will disappear in the future.

From the Paper:

"Through the theory of historical materialism Marx illustrates that social organizations are not natural, they are shaped by modes of production. He identifies five changes in the mode of production: the primitive community, the slave state, the feudal state, capitalism, and socialism. Therefor class struggle is particular only to the existing capitalist system. Historical materialism explains why class societies and class struggles arose in history, and why they will disappear in the future. According to Marx when humanity evolves into the final stage, socialism, social relation/organization will be transformed. The ruling class will not shape reality, because it will be the end of a class society. This would also be end to the state itself because everyone would be "morally pure". The authors. envisioned the dictatorship of the proletariat, as an instrument for assuring the transition from class society to classless society and supervising its own disappearance. Therefore, communism would be a society without an exchange economy, class, or state where nobody has one exclusive sphere of activity but each can become accomplished in any branch he wishes."