Class Struggle

Definition

Class struggle refers to the tension and conflict that arises between different socioeconomic classes within a society, particularly between the ruling class and the working class. It is a central concept in critical theories that examine power dynamics and social inequality.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Class struggle is a fundamental aspect of critical worldviews, which examine the unequal distribution of power, wealth, and resources in society.
2. The bourgeoisie, or ruling class, seeks to maintain its economic and political dominance, while the proletariat, or working class, aims to challenge this power imbalance.
3. Marxist theory posits that the resolution of class struggle will lead to the establishment of a classless, egalitarian society.
4. Class struggle can manifest in various forms, including labor movements, social revolutions, and political conflicts.
5. The intensity and nature of class struggle can vary depending on factors such as economic conditions, cultural norms, and the degree of social mobility within a society.

Review Questions

• Explain how the concept of class struggle is central to critical worldviews.
  • Class struggle is a fundamental aspect of critical worldviews, which examine the unequal distribution of power, wealth, and resources in society. These theories, such as Marxism, view the tension and conflict between the ruling class (bourgeoisie) and the working class (proletariat) as the driving force of historical change and social progress. Critical worldviews argue that the resolution of class struggle is necessary to establish a more equitable and egalitarian society.
• Describe the different roles and motivations of the bourgeoisie and proletariat in the class struggle.
  • In the context of class struggle, the bourgeoisie, or ruling class, seeks to maintain its economic and political dominance, as they own the means of production and capital. Conversely, the proletariat, or working class, aims to challenge this power imbalance and gain a more equitable share of the wealth and resources generated through their labor. This fundamental conflict of interests between the two classes is at the heart of the class struggle, as the proletariat strives to overthrow the existing social and economic order.
• Analyze the potential outcomes and implications of the resolution of class struggle according to Marxist theory.
  • According to Marxist theory, the resolution of class struggle will lead to the establishment of a classless, egalitarian society. Marxists believe that the proletariat, through a social revolution, will seize control of the means of production and overthrow the bourgeoisie, thereby eliminating the class divisions that perpetuate social inequality. The resulting classless society would be characterized by the collective ownership of the means of production and the equitable distribution of resources, with the goal of creating a more just and prosperous social order. The implications of this Marxist vision of a post-class struggle society include the eradication of economic exploitation, the empowerment of the working class, and the realization of true social and political democracy.

Related terms

Bourgeoisie:

The social class that owns the means of production and capital, such as factories, land, and businesses.

Proletariat:

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

Marxism:

A political and economic theory developed by Karl Marx that views class struggle as the driving force of historical change and social progress.