Karl Marx was a German thinker who wrote about economics, history, political science, the social world, and socialism. Based on this, Marx’s thoughts are the basis of communism and revolutionary sciences. According to him, entrepreneurship like the preceding socioeconomic systems; would unavoidably produce interior strains which would lead to its devastation. In his views, Marx thought that as entrepreneurship replaced feudalism; socialism would in turn substitute capitalism hence leading to a stateless and egalitarian society referred to as one under ‘pure communism’.
From this, he further argued that the structural inconsistencies within entrepreneurship called for its end resulting in the emergence of communism. It should further be noted that from Marx’s point of view; the expansion of contemporary industries cuts from its roots the very base; on which the rich manufactures and appropriates goods. In this case, what the rich produce is what will result in its destruction thus giving way to the success of the proletariat. It can further be argued that capitalism according to Karl Marx would stop through the planned procedures of a worldwide working-class (Marx et al. 6-80).
It is of importance to note that, Karl Marx in his communist manifesto offered a systematic advance to the class opposition and the social ills of entrepreneurship rather than a forecast of socialism’s upcoming forms. It can also be argued that from Marx’s point of view capitalism which has been brought about by contemporary industrialization has led to several social ills. In this case, Marx outlined the problems caused by classes and ranks in society. Based on this in the ancient societies, there were cases of a complex arrangement of the social order into different ranks.
According to Marx, during the industrial revolution, the bourgeois society established new social ranks, new forms of fightbacks, and new situations of dominations. As a result of the industrial revolution which gave way to capitalism, two different classes emerged which included the bourgeois and the proletariat. It should also be noted that the industrial revolution brought about the division of labor where the laborers received fewer benefits as compared to the landowners. It can also be argued that the contemporary industry has developed the world market which in turn has given a vast advancement to business, transportation, and communication by land. As a result of these expansions, the bourgeois has developed in raising its assets; hence driving into the ground every class (Burkett 154-176).
It can further be argued that contemporary bourgeois society has its transactions of manufacturing, trade, and assets; but is no longer capable of managing the powers of production. It should further be noted that the industrial revolution according to Karl Marx had led to the widespread exploitation of laborers by the owners of means of production. In this case, the laborers produce but did not benefit from the production which results in them buying the products they have produced from the owners of means of production. Based on this, the contemporary cost of living is rising whereas the worker’s wages remain low hence making them strain in the modern economic conditions.
From Karl Marx’s views, the owners of means of production have agglomerated manufacturing and have streamlined possessions in the hands of a few people. Further, capitalization has resulted in political centralization where political benefits, rules, and administration’s processes of taxation become concentrated to the interests of the rich leaving the poor to be discriminated against (Marx et al. 6-80).
It is further of importance to note that, the industrial revolution has resulted in environmental pollution through the enormous productions which pollute the environment. In this case, industrial pollutants cause the instance diseases and increased dryness which affects the well being of contemporary society members. Based on this it can be argued that the industrial revolution has led to social ills in contemporary societies.
It is of importance to note that according to Karl Marx, the industrial revolution instead of leading to the prosperity of the working class; led to their poverty. It should also be noted that with the increase of the use of the equipment and splitting up of work; the cost of production of a laborer is limited roughly to the means of survival that he needs for his continuation. Further, the extensive use of machinery in industries has enslaved workers where they are made as slaves by the owners of the means of production and also machines (Marx et al 6-80).
On the other hand, Karl Marx gave some remedies for the social ills caused by the ongoing industrial revolution. In this case, he stated that the means of production should be owned communally where there would be no boss to avoid enslaving others. Based on this, Karl Marx stated that the products produced by the communally owned means of production should be divided equally to avoid classes and ranks in societies.
On the other hand, Marx stated that there should be no competition in terms of skills since this makes some disadvantaged society members left behind in social orders. Based on this, there would be no competition for labor and hence no labor division in terms of qualifications. Additionally, the other remedy given by Karl Marx is the unity of the proletariats to fight their enemy; which is the bourgeois society. According to him, when the unending use of equipment makes the source of revenue more unstable and hence the crash between the two classes. As a result of this, laborers come together to form trade unions against the owners of means of production; to increase the rate of salaries.
According to Marx, the workers’ unions would expand and become a political party that will take advantage of the divisions of the bourgeois caused by completion in production; which would overcome the bourgeois society. As a result of this, the owners of means of production would start fighting among themselves and one group would ask for help from the workers by supplying them with means to suppress the other bourgeois group. By doing this, Karl Marx said that the bourgeois will be supplying the workers with weapons like political powers and general education to eliminate them; and as result capitalism gives way to socialism.
In this case, when the workers will be provided with education and political powers; a group of the bourgeois will join them in their revolutionary struggles to fight the other bourgeoisie. It can be argued from Karl Marx’s views that, the workers will acquire the means of production after fighting the bourgeois. Based on this, these means of production will be owned communally hence eliminating the chances of competition for properties and skills in the society. From this, it can be argued that the bourgeois in the industrial revolution will dig their graves through capitalism and the advancement of industries (Burkett 154-176).
From Karl Marx’s viewpoint, it can be argued that most of his remedies are ideal but not practical. In this case, the communal ownership of properties would not be possible as it would lead to laziness among the workers which in long run would lead to a decreasing level of produced products.
Based on this, workers will be looking forward to each other to accomplish a job which would lead to no product produced. On the other hand, the lack of competition in terms of labor skills would lead to workers being not able to run the machinery which in turn would slow down production. In this case, most of the production would be made manually without the use of machines as no one has the skills of operating machines. From this, production would be efficient since any worker can perform any job even though he/she has not been trained (Desai 123-145).
Additionally, laborers could not come together and fight the bourgeois because they would be having different needs. In this case, it can be argued that each worker has some money needs and hence would work even though the income is low. On the other hand competition among the owners of the means of production, helps in increasing the quality of production and also competing for laborers which result in the raising of their wages. According to Karl Marx, the owners of the means of production would start fighting as a result of competition. This would be impractical since each bourgeois would be striving to increase the quality of production and at the same time increase production to gain much profit (Desai 123-145).
To wind up, the Marxist views on the ongoing contemporary industrial revolution; are in terms of social ills caused by capitalism and the advancement in industries. It can further be argued that, contrary to Karl Marx’s viewpoints; the advancement in industries raises standards of livings since many people are employed in these industries. On the other hand, this advancement would encourage education and the gaining of skills among workers.
Works cited
Burkett, Paul. “Marx and Nature: A Red and Green Perspective”, 1st edition. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan Publishers. (1999): P. 154-176.
Desai, Meghnad. “Marx’s Revenge: The Resurgence of Capitalism and the Death of Statist Socialism”. New York: Versco Publishers. (2004): P. 123-145.
Marx, Karl & Engels, Friedrich. “The Communist Manifesto”. London: Signet Classics Publishers. (1998): P. 6-80.