Marx puts to question the victory claimed by the Bourgeoisie in the midst of a struggle of classes (Marx 72). The emergence of a new class of industrial workers (proletariat) emerges as a threat to the members of the bourgeoisie. He further predicts a possible overthrow of the bourgeoisie masters paving way for technological advancement. The proletarian class consciousness problem has often been discussed in an abstract manner. Little analysis has been performed on the real historical processes that led to the development of this working-class movement. The process is however believed to be a result of the revolutionary party’s conscious building into a class of itself. This paper will describe the situation of the proletariat and the solution proposed by Marx to the problems of this class.
Max’s description of human society’s history as an ongoing struggle between the oppressor and the oppressed fits the context of the Bourgeoisie and the proletariat. The proletariats are defined as the class of persons who lack wealth and only have their labor to sell to the wealthy class in return for wages. However, Marx argues that they are the actual creators of the wealth in the society in which they lived (Marx 74). The birth of the proletariat is a product of their struggle with the bourgeoisie. The class develops from individual laborers to factions of workers and finally large trade unions that threaten the social standing of the bourgeoisie.
Marx defines the working class as leaving like brutes in unhealthy conditions that finally pave the way to their deaths. They are ignorant as a result of the barbaric life they have been brought up in and never imagine the possibility of attaining higher life. The richer class of the bourgeoisie enjoy the sweat enjoyed the sweat of these working-class and used the police to guard them like prisoners (Spielvogel 621).
In a bid to help these emerging classes with their problems, Marx’s engaged in enlightenment movements that opened the eyes of the working class to possibilities of a better life. He engaged in trade unions re-organization The early industrial revolution accompanied by increased population growth contributes significantly to the rise of the proletariat. The working class despite being the contributors to society’s wealth languished in dilapidated conditions. As their living conditions continued to worsen, their eyes opened to the oppression they suffered in the hands of the bourgeoisie and in turn began to rebel against their bourgeoisie masters (Spielvogel 619). Their attacks are directed against production instruments as they seek to restore their status within the society.
The proletarian movement is driven by the obsession to eliminate poverty upon a sudden realization that there is a better lie beyond that with which they were used. Their rise comes as the rise of a dictatorial force that is out to eliminate their masters and create a new production order (Spielvogel 627). In the communist manifesto, Marx argues that the working class is destined to displace the capitalist authority with a proletarian dictatorship that would eliminate class system relational underpinnings with a free communist society where everyone is allowed to economically progress (Marx 79). Marx ultimately aimed to participate in the creation of a state that is ruled in the interest of the working class who directly engage in the creation of wealth.
Revolutionary socialism backed by Marx, therefore, engaged in activities aimed at seizing control from the state arguing that as long as the state stood for the needs of the bourgeoisie class then it could as well be branded as a bourgeoisie state power (Spielvogel 623). It is based on this that he formulated a strategy that would see proletariats train guards in advance in preparation for the takeover. In general, Marx enormously contributes to the take over by the working
References
Marx, Karl. The Communist Manifesto, New York: Avenel Books, 1982, 72 – 85.
Spielvogel, Jackson. Industrial Revolution and its impact on European Society in Western Civilization: Alternate Volume: Since 1300, London: British Library, 2008, 618 – 630.