NAME: __________________________________________ SCORE: ______________

SECTION: 11-ST. CATHERINE OF SIENA DATE: _______________

I. Read this module about Marxism and highlight important information. You may use the information you gathered to answer
the activities below.
INTRODUCTION
Have you ever wondered why there are people who have more of something while others have less or even none of it? Why
are there people who can afford their own personal vehicles while others are crammed in deteriorating public transportation systems?
Why are there people who had the privilege to finish a college degree while others need to walk kilometers of harsh terrain just to reach
their elementary school? Or why can some people lavishly dine in expensive restaurants and have enough money to spare while others
can barely make ends meet just to have food on their tables? Marxism is a theory that believes that these situations reflect social
inequality, and that we should acknowledge this reality.
MARXISM
For American sociologist John J. Macionis, Marxism, in its general sociological sense, sees the world as a “struggle between
segments of society over valued resources.” These social segments can also be referred to as social classes, and their struggles are
also called social conflicts. These conflicts can take many different forms. However, what social scientists usually focus on is the class
conflict that arises from the existing economic system that governs society.
For many sociologists, Marxism is the opposite of the structural-functionalist approach, which focuses on solidarity and
stability. On the other hand, the Marxist approach views society as an arena of inequality, which generates conflict and change.

 Capitalism as the Historical Context behind Marxism

Before we proceed further with Marxism, we first need to understand how it came into fruition. The Industrial Revolution in the
19th and early 20th century transformed largely agricultural economies to industrial economies in most European societies. This
revolution prompted the proliferation of capitalism as the prevailing economic system. According to John Macionis and Linda Gerber,
capitalism refers to an economic system where natural resources and means of producing goods are privately owned in pursuit of
profit. Private ownership meant that a select number of individuals controlled the means of production with a clear-cut goal of profit-
making.
In theory, this economic system can have positive impacts on the economy of a country. It was believed that with capitalism, more
individuals, other than nobles or aristocrats, can attain a wealthy status. It was also believed that capitalism could promote
development in various parts of a country. However, Karl Marx, the key figure behind Marxism, witnessed the opposite of capitalist
ideals for most of the population. According to Macionis, Marx saw this society as a contradiction where various forms of inequalities
are widespread. In a growing society with sprawling new factories, surplus of resources, and technology, why are there so many people
who are poor? What can be done to change their situation? Furthermore, Marx believed that capitalism led to a human's alienation.
Instead of reaching his or her fullest potential, a human being is defined by the specific type of work that the capitalists have told him or
her to do. As an example, rather than dreaming of creating his own vehicle, a worker is content with installing tires for the rest of his life
if he or she earns enough money to feed his or her family and make it through a day. According to Macionis, this reality became Marx’s
motivation to help a severely divided society and create a new and fairer social order for everyone.

 Key Figures in Marxism

Karl Marx (1818–1883) originally studied law following the footsteps of his father. He attended the
University of Bonn. Then, in the University of Berlin, he became fascinated with and later joined a
group of intellectuals known as the Young Hegelians; they critiqued German politics at that time.
Later in 1843, Marx migrated to Paris to work as a journalist. It was here that he met Friedrich Engels
(1820–1895), a budding philosopher and part of a family of textile manufacturers. According to
sociologist James Farganis, Engels played a very important role in the life of Marx as Engels
supported him financially and shared his vision of historical progress and revolutionary
transformation. Engels would later become Marx’s benefactor and lifelong friend. Both collaborated
to write The Communist Manifesto, which was published in 1848. Marx then faced financial struggles from 1848 to 1863. He settled in
London and continued to write Das Kapital. This book was published later in 1867 and became his masterpiece.
In addition, the works of Karl Marx are associated with the communist and socialist ideologies. The works of Marx and Engels also
laid the groundwork for communism. Communism is a hypothetical economic and political system in which all members of a society are
equal. In theory, the goal is to return to a communist society where all class divisions are abolished, and everyone is equal. In this
society, conflicts and inequalities will no longer exist. For Marx, according to Macionis, communism was present in the early hunting
and gathering societies. However, Marx added that, gradual change and advancement of societies led to social conflicts.
On the other hand, socialism refers to an economic system in which natural resources and the means of producing goods and
services are collectively owned. For Marx, socialism is the economic system that shall replace capitalism after a revolution takes place.
According to Macionis, socialism is an important step toward the ideals of a communist society.
One of Marx’ modern contemporaries went by the name of Antonio Gramsci (1891–1937), an Italian philosopher and
communist. Gramsci is most well-known for his concept of hegemony, which refers to cultural leadership exercised by the ruling class,
according to American sociologists George Ritzer and Jeffrey Stepnisky. Hegemony can be described as a way of exercising power
through the consent of masses rather than by force. According to Ritzer and Stepnisky, Gramsci was a Marxist, but he believed that
historical developments are not inevitable. Ritzer and Stepnisky added that according to Gramsci, the masses must act for a revolution
to occur. For the masses to act and topple the existing order, they should become conscious of the reality that they are experiencing.
For this to happen, communist intellectuals shall play a vital role in enlightening them from the false consciousness that
clouds their reality.

 Society through the lens of Marxism

Marxism argues that the economy or prevailing economic system dominates the others and defines the character of the entire
society. This idea is part of Marx’s materialism. According to Ritzer and Stepnisky, materialism claims that the way by which people
provide for their material needs conditions the relations that people have with each other. In a macro-sense, the prevailing economic
system acts as the economic base that serves as a “foundation” to all other institutions or superstructures.
According to Marx, a connected concept to the base is superstructures. Marx believed that superstructures are social institutions
that support the base and justify its actions. It can be said that the base shapes the superstructures. Examples of superstructures
include the family, government, religion, and media. A capitalistic society may operate through production and relationships in
businesses (base). Then, it may be believed that businesses drive growth and development in every social institution in a society. In
turn, a school (superstructure) might then reinforce the mindset that businesses and capitalism help society develop, thus justifying
their presence. Schools can then be seen as a "manufacturing establishment” that produces educated and productive members of the
labor force. These members of the labor force might then later work in capitalists' businesses or companies. Similarly, laws can be
said to support the capitalist economic base by containing provisions protecting the property and interests of capitalists.
Another important concept in Marxism is false consciousness, which Marx believed to be widespread in a capitalist economic
system. According to Macionis and Gerber, false consciousness can be defined as the concept of explaining “social problems as the
shortcomings of individuals rather than the flaws of society.” That is, the rich are in that state because they have earned that money
and resources through hard work and education while the poor remain poor because they lack the drive to better themselves and
escape such harsh conditions. According to Marxism, this can then lead to widespread inequality being accepted as if it were the way
of life.

 Class Conflict and History

“The history of all hitherto existing society is the history of class struggles.” This may be considered the most famous excerpt from
The Communist Manifesto, and it summarizes the Marxist view of society in relation to history. According to American sociologist Ruth
Wallace and British economist Alison Wolf, this statement generates three important propositions of historical materialism: (1) people
within a similar socio-economic class tend to act as a group; (2) socio-economic classes are the most important groups found in any
given society; and (3) their history is the history of human society. Marx believed that any prevailing economic system in the history of
man divides the society into two classes: the haves and have-nots. In the case of capitalism, it was divided between the capitalists and
the proletariat. The capitalists are those who own the factories and businesses to gain profits. On the other hand, the proletariat are the
workers who sell their labor to earn wages from the capitalists. Under Marxism, the proletariat and capitalists are constantly engaged
in a class conflict.
Class conflict, as defined by Macionis, is a type of social conflict between entire classes over the distribution of a society’s wealth
and power—the means of production. Throughout the history of human society under Marxism, class conflict has been the catalyst that
leads to changes and development. Only a select group of individuals are believed to have controlled many resources and how such
resources will be utilized or distributed. These groups include kings, royals, aristocrats, and capitalists. Most of the people are then
subject to the control of these powerful groups.
According to Marxism, at the end of each class conflict, new classes will emerge and will control the means of production.
Capitalism, which is an example of a prevailing economic system even today, is believed to have produced a society where the
capitalists exploit most of the masses (proletariat).
According to Marx, revolution is our only way out. For a revolution to occur, Marx pointed out that the proletariat must become
aware of their situation. They need to wake up from their false consciousness. He believes that the proletariat need to be aware of the
oppression and exploitation that they are experiencing. The next crucial step is for them to organize and act to address these problems.
Protests or demonstrations are considered as an example of the proletariat organizing and acting to address their concerns. Both steps
will result in class consciousness, which according to Macionis, is the “proletariats” recognition of themselves as a class unified in
opposition to capitalists and ultimately to capitalism itself.” It is only then that a true revolution will transpire to remake society. As Marx
and Engels, themselves said, “The proletarians have nothing to lose but their chains. They have a world to win.”

II. Modified True or False. Write true if the statement is correct. If the statement is false, correct the statement by

replacing the underlined word or phrase to make the statement true.

_______________________1. Marxism sees society as a struggle between groups of people over money.

_______________________2. Marxism views society as an arena of instability that generates conflict and change.

_______________________3. Karl Marx joined The Young Engelians, a group of intellectuals who critiqued German politics at that

time.

_______________________4. Marx’s own philosophical approach, materialism, demonstrates how factors related to economic

production shape society.

_______________________5. Marx and Engels collaborated to write and publish Das Kapital in 1848.

_______________________6. In 19th century Europe, communism was the prevailing economic system.

_______________________7. According to Gramsci, hegemony refers to the domination of the ruling class through culture.

_______________________8. The economic base shapes other social institutions in each society.

_______________________9. In Marxism, superstructures are believed to justify the economic system.

_______________________10. For a revolution to occur, Marx pointed out that the proletariat must become aware of their situation.

III. Completion. Fill in the blanks with the correct answer.

1. Under capitalism, society is divided into two classes: the capitalists and the _____________________.

2. _____________________ can be considered a reasons why widespread inequalities tend to be accepted as if it were

the way of life.

3. Marx believed that _____________________ is the engine that derives social change.

4. _____________________ is the act of the proletariat seeing themselves as battling capitalists and capitalism.
5. Capitalism is said to have produced society where the elite few exploits most of the masses, and

_____________________ is considered the only way out.