MARXIST THINKING

1
MARXIST THINKING

• Karl Marx (1818-1883)
• Capital a Critical Analysis of Capitalist
  Production, Vol. 1 (1867)

2
MODES OF PRODUCTION

• 1. Slavery Slaves are property laborers,
  Slave Owners control the means of production
• 2. Feudalism Laborers (cultivators or
  herdspeople) have access to the means of
  production. Feudal Lords extract tribute by
  political and military means
• 3. Capitalism Laborers (Proletariat) sell their
  labor power for a wage. Property Owners
  (Bourgeoisie) control the means of production

3
MARXIST TERMINOLOGY

• Means of Production System of labor and
  property relations (i.e. a farm, factory, etc.)
• Labor Activities that transform raw nature into
  something to use/exchange
• Property Social connection between people and
  things
• Use Value Immediate value of a product
• Exchange Value Value of product for sale or
  trade, including the profit

4
MARXIST TERMINOLOGY (cont.)

• Classes Social groups defined by their
  relationship to the means of production
• 1. Bourgeoisie owners of means of production
  (factories, mines, large farms, etc.)
• 2. Proletariat (working class) people who
  sell their labor to survive
• Exploitation Owners profit exceeds laborers
  wages

5
MARXIST TERMINOLOGY (cont.)

• Social Relations of Production Relationships
  between humans engaged in the system of labor and
  property relations
• Specialized Labor Laborers perform specialized
  tasks that depend upon other specialized labor
  (i.e. Assembly Line labor)
• Alienated Labor Laborer is separated from the
  means of production, the product of the work,
  other laborers

6
MARXIST TERMINOLOGY (cont.)

• Commodity Product of labor
• Commodity Fetishism Product of labor takes on a
  meaning/value that exceeds the exchange value
  commodity has a spirit/life of its own that gives
  it power

7
MARXIST TERMINOLOGY (cont.)

• Class Consciousness Members of a social class
  recognize their collective interests and
  personally identify with their economic group
• Revolution working class unite to overthrow the
  bourgeoisie
• Organizing Workers develop organizations to
  protect their interests and increase their share
  of industrial profits (i.e. trade unions,
  socialist parties)