The proletariat refers to the class of wage-earners in an industrial society who do not own the means of production. They rely on selling their labor to capitalists in order to earn a living.
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The proletariat is the central focus of Marxist theory, which sees them as the revolutionary class that will overthrow the capitalist system.
Marx believed that the proletariat's lack of ownership over the means of production would lead them to develop a shared class consciousness and unite to seize control of the economy.
Proletarian revolution, according to Marxism, is the necessary step to transitioning from capitalism to socialism and eventually a classless communist society.
The proletariat is distinguished from the peasantry, who own small plots of land, in contrast to the urban, industrial workers who make up the proletariat.
Marxism sees the conflict between the proletariat and the bourgeoisie as the driving force of historical change and the key to understanding sociopolitical dynamics.
Review Questions
Explain the role of the proletariat in Marxist political ideology.
In Marxist theory, the proletariat is the revolutionary class that will overthrow the capitalist system and establish a socialist society. Marx believed that the proletariat, as the class of wage-earners who do not own the means of production, would develop a shared class consciousness and unite to seize control of the economy from the bourgeoisie. The proletariat's central role in Marxist ideology is to lead the revolution and transition from capitalism to a classless communist society.
Analyze the relationship between the proletariat and the bourgeoisie as described in Marxist thought.
Marxism sees the conflict between the proletariat and the bourgeoisie as the driving force of historical change. The bourgeoisie, as the class that owns the means of production, exploits the labor of the proletariat for profit. This inherent conflict of interest between the two classes is viewed as the key to understanding sociopolitical dynamics. Marxism argues that the proletariat's lack of ownership over the means of production will lead them to develop a shared class consciousness and unite to overthrow the bourgeoisie and seize control of the economy.
Evaluate the significance of the proletariat in the Marxist solution to the problems of capitalism.
In the Marxist view, the proletariat is the central agent of revolutionary change that will transition society from capitalism to socialism and eventually communism. Marxism holds that the proletariat's lack of ownership over the means of production and their exploitation by the bourgeoisie will drive them to develop class consciousness and unite to seize control of the economy. This proletarian revolution is seen as the necessary step to overcoming the inherent contradictions of capitalism and establishing a classless, communist society. The proletariat's pivotal role in this Marxist solution is crucial to understanding the core tenets of Marxist political ideology.
Related terms
Bourgeoisie: The social class that owns the means of production and employs the proletariat, such as factory owners and industrialists.
Class Consciousness: The awareness of one's social class and the shared interests and struggles within that class.
Dialectical Materialism: The Marxist view that social and historical change is driven by the conflict between opposing material forces, such as the proletariat and the bourgeoisie.