Karl Marx — Theories in a Nutshell (Hover for Meanings)
1) Historical Materialism
| Concept | Explanation |
|---|
| Base & Superstructure | Economic base determines superstructure. |
| Material Conditions | Material/economic forces drive history, not ideas. |
| Dialectical Process | Change via contradictions → Thesis → Antithesis → Synthesis. |
| Stages of History | Primitive Communism → Slavery → Feudalism → Capitalism → Socialism → Communism. |
Economic Base → Class Relations → Social Institutions → Ideology → Class Conflict → Change
2) Class & Class Conflict
| Concept | Explanation |
|---|
| Class | Defined by relation to ownership of production. |
| Bourgeoisie vs. Proletariat | Capitalists own; workers sell labour. |
| Exploitation | Surplus value taken from workers’ labour. |
| Class Consciousness | Unity & revolutionary awareness. |
| False Consciousness | Illusion preventing revolution. |
3) Labour Theory of Value & Surplus Value
| Term | Definition |
|---|
| Value of Commodity | Determined by socially necessary labour time. |
| Labour Power | Sold by worker to capitalist. |
| Surplus Value | Basis of capitalist profit. |
| Capital Accumulation | Drives inequality and crises. |
Labour → Commodity → Value → Surplus → Profit → Accumulation → Crisis → Revolution
4) Alienation
| Type | Explanation |
|---|
| From Product | Loss of ownership of output. |
| From Process | No control over production process. |
| From Others | Workers become isolated. |
| From Species-being | Loss of human potential. |
5) Ideology & False Consciousness
- Ruling class controls means of mental production.
- Institutions justify inequality through ideology.
- Leads to False Consciousness.
6) Revolution & Communism
| Stage | Features |
|---|
| Capitalism | Contradiction: socialized production vs private profit. |
| Proletarian Revolution | Workers seize means of production. |
| Dictatorship of Proletariat | Transition phase to socialism. |
| Communism | Classless, stateless, egalitarian society. |
7) Critique of Capitalism
| Problem | View |
|---|
| Commodity Fetishism | Relations between people appear as between things. |
| Crisis of Overproduction | Excess goods, falling profits, crises. |
| Polarization | Wealth concentrates in few hands. |
8) Key Works
| Work | Year | Main Idea |
|---|
| The Communist Manifesto | 1848 | Class struggle & revolution. |
| Das Kapital | 1867–1894 | Capitalist production & surplus value. |
| German Ideology | 1845 | Historical materialism. |
| Economic & Philosophic Manuscripts | 1844 | Alienation and human essence. |
In a Nutshell
Economic Base → Class Structure → Exploitation → Alienation → Consciousness → Revolution → Socialism → Communism
