MARXISM – Class, Capital & Revolution
Scientific Socialism & Historical Materialism
1️⃣ WHO WAS KARL MARX?
- 19th century German philosopher
- Critic of capitalism
- Founder of scientific socialism
- Co-author of Communist Manifesto
Core Aim: End exploitation & establish classless society.
2️⃣ HISTORICAL MATERIALISM
History progresses through material economic conditions.
Economic Base → Determines → Superstructure
- Base = Mode of production
- Superstructure = State, Law, Religion, Ideology
Change occurs through class struggle.
3️⃣ DIALECTICAL MATERIALISM
Borrowed from Hegel but made materialist.
- Thesis
- Antithesis
- Synthesis
Conflict drives progress.
4️⃣ CLASS STRUGGLE
“All history is the history of class struggle.”
- Slave vs Master
- Feudal Lord vs Serf
- Bourgeoisie vs Proletariat
Capitalism creates its own grave-diggers (workers).
5️⃣ THEORY OF EXPLOITATION
- Labour creates value
- Capitalist pays less than value produced
- Surplus value = Profit
Exploitation is structural, not moral accident.
6️⃣ ALIENATION
Workers are alienated from:- Product
- Process
- Species-being
- Other workers
7️⃣ THEORY OF THE STATE
State = Instrument of ruling class.- Not neutral
- Protects capitalist interests
- Maintains class dominance
- Dictatorship of proletariat
- Eventually withers away
8️⃣ REVOLUTION
Stages:- Class consciousness
- Revolution
- Socialist phase
- Communist phase (stateless, classless society)
9️⃣ MARXISM & IDEOLOGY
- Dominant ideology = ideology of ruling class
- False consciousness
- Religion = “opium of the masses”
🔟 NEO-MARXISM
- Antonio Gramsci – Hegemony
- Frankfurt School – Culture industry
- Althusser – Ideological State Apparatus
1️⃣1️⃣ CRITICISMS
- Economic determinism
- Revolution prediction failure
- Authoritarian communist regimes
- Neglect of gender & identity
📝 UPSC MAINS QUESTIONS
- Explain Marx’s theory of historical materialism.
- Is the Marxist theory of state relevant today?
- Discuss alienation in contemporary capitalism.
- Compare Marxism and Liberalism.
- Evaluate Neo-Marxist reinterpretation.
📌 QUICK REVISION MAP
- Base → Superstructure
- Class struggle → Engine of history
- Surplus value → Exploitation
- State → Class instrument
- Revolution → Structural change
Marxism is not just theory — it is a method of analyzing power.
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