POL 315
THEORY AND PRACTICE OF MARXISM
4.0 CONCLUSION
There are two major social groups: bourgeoisie and the proletariat (a
ruling class and a subject class). As a result, there is a basic conflict of
interest between the two classes. The ruling class exploits and oppresses
the subject class. The free market does not guarantee that merit is
equally rewarded for all social groups. Social justice may therefore be
promoted when the state intervenes on behalf of the oppressed classes.
5.0 SUMMARY
The essence of capitalism is that the means of production, distribution
and exchange - the factories, mines, railways and other resources needed
to produce goods and services - are privately owned and exploited by
individuals (or individual firms) to generate wealth for themselves. The
foundation of society (the economic and social class systems)
determines the nature of society's superstructure, which rests upon
foundation. Accordingly, for most of its history, socialism has held that
the surest way to remedy the ills of capitalism is for the state to
nationalise these productive resources (take them into public ownership)
and to manage them on behalf of all society's members.
SELF-ASSESSMENT EXERCISE
i. Explain the linkage between economic substructure and the
superstructure of your society.
ii. Describe the characteristics of economic substructure in
capitalism.
6.0 TUTOR-MARKED ASSIGNMENT
1. Evaluate the position of the material base in any society.
2. Explain how the superstructure can create false consciousness.
7.0 REFERENCES/FURTHER READING
Asirvatham, E. & Misra, K. (2005). Political Theory. New Delhi: S.
Chand and Co. Ltd.
Baradat, L. (2006). Political Ideologies: Their Origins and Impact. New
Jersey: Pearson Prentice-Hall.
Johari, J. (2012). Principles of Modern Political Science. India:Sterling.
Miliband, R. (1969). The State in Capitalist Society. London.
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