This essay looks at states and places in which there had been (or is said to happen) a transition between different modes of production, especially feudalism, capitalism, and socialism, with the aim of verifying or falsifying Marx’s historical materialism.
It begins with a short explanation of the historical materialism and its modes of production and theoretical arguments against the concept. Then it looks at all the political entities which called themselves socialist and communist. The countries which fit Marx’s definition quite well can be divided into two groups: those that were feudalistic before the transition to another mode of production, and those that already were capitalistic before the transition.
The essay will answer the question if the socialist states are becoming truly communist, or if the system is just stable, or if they are doomed to “regress” to capitalism. For the capitalist countries, It will also research their future development: if they will become socialist, if they stay capitalist, or if they will regress to some form of feudalism.
The research will show which of the possibilities have happened or are bound to happen, and therefore it is possible to say if the development predicted by Marx and Engels is realistic.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction
- Historical materialism and its modes of production
- Primitive communism
- Ancient society
- Feudalism
- Capitalism
- Socialism
- Communism
- General criticism of the historical materialism
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This essay aims to assess the validity of Marx's historical materialism by examining historical transitions between different modes of production, specifically feudalism, capitalism, and socialism. It will analyze states and places that have undergone or are said to have undergone such transitions, focusing on both socialist and capitalist entities.
- The theory of historical materialism and its modes of production
- The historical development of different modes of production
- The transition from feudalism to capitalism and from capitalism to socialism
- The stability and future development of socialist and capitalist states
- The empirical evidence for and against Marx's theory of historical materialism
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
The essay begins by introducing Marx's historical materialism and its modes of production, outlining the theory's main arguments and presenting criticisms. It then delves into different modes of production, starting with primitive communism, followed by ancient society, feudalism, and capitalism. For each mode, the essay explores its characteristics, defining forces of production, and identifying the key class relations. The chapter on socialism discusses the historical and theoretical aspects of socialist states, examining their transition from previous modes and their potential for development towards communism. The essay concludes with a critical evaluation of historical materialism, addressing its theoretical and empirical limitations.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
This essay explores the concepts of historical materialism, modes of production, class struggle, primitive communism, ancient society, feudalism, capitalism, socialism, communism, and the transition between these modes. It investigates the empirical evidence for and against Marx's theory, analyzing the historical development of various states and societies.
- Quote paper
- Florentin Rack (Author), 2013, Marx's Historical Materialism on Trial, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/263955
