Dictatorship of the Proletariat

Definition

The dictatorship of the proletariat refers to a transitional stage in Marxist theory where the working class, or proletariat, seizes political power and establishes a socialist state to pave the way for a classless, communist society. It is a central concept in Marxism that outlines the revolutionary process of transforming capitalist societies.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The dictatorship of the proletariat is a key concept in Marxism that outlines the revolutionary process of transitioning from capitalism to communism.
2. The goal of the dictatorship of the proletariat is to suppress the bourgeoisie, abolish private property, and establish a socialist state that will eventually wither away, leading to a classless, communist society.
3. During the dictatorship of the proletariat, the working class uses its political power to expropriate the means of production from the bourgeoisie and reorganize the economy along socialist principles.
4. The dictatorship of the proletariat is a temporary phase that is meant to pave the way for a classless, communist society where the state and class distinctions have withered away.
5. Marxists argue that the dictatorship of the proletariat is necessary to overcome the resistance of the bourgeoisie and prevent the restoration of capitalism.

Review Questions

• Explain the purpose and goals of the dictatorship of the proletariat according to Marxist theory.
  • According to Marxist theory, the dictatorship of the proletariat is a necessary transitional stage between capitalism and communism. The purpose of the dictatorship of the proletariat is to suppress the bourgeoisie, abolish private property, and reorganize the economy along socialist principles. The ultimate goal is to establish a classless, communist society where the state and class distinctions have withered away.
• Describe the role of the working class (proletariat) in the dictatorship of the proletariat.
  • In the dictatorship of the proletariat, the working class (proletariat) seizes political power and uses it to suppress the bourgeoisie and transform the economic system. The proletariat expropriates the means of production from the bourgeoisie and reorganizes the economy according to socialist principles. This is a necessary step to pave the way for a classless, communist society where the state and class distinctions have been abolished.
• Analyze the Marxist argument for the necessity of the dictatorship of the proletariat in the transition to communism.
  • Marxists argue that the dictatorship of the proletariat is a necessary and temporary phase in the transition from capitalism to communism. They contend that the bourgeoisie will resist the loss of their power and privilege, and that the working class must use its political power to suppress the bourgeoisie and prevent the restoration of capitalism. The dictatorship of the proletariat is meant to facilitate the abolition of private property, the reorganization of the economy along socialist principles, and the eventual withering away of the state and class distinctions, leading to a classless, communist society.

Related terms

Proletariat:

The social class of wage-earners, especially industrial workers, who do not own the means of production and must sell their labor to survive.

Bourgeoisie:

The social class that owns the means of production and employs wage-labor, such as factory owners and business leaders.

Class Struggle:

The conflict between the proletariat and the bourgeoisie, which Marxists believe is the driving force of social change and historical development.