Discover published sets by community

In Marxist theory, the 'base' refers to the modes of production such as labour and capital, while 'superstructure' consists of the societal aspects like culture, institutions, and politics that are shaped by the base. The base determines the superstructure, yet the superstructure can also influence the base.

Class consciousness is the awareness of one's social class and its potential for collective political action. It's essential for a proletariat's realization of its role in the struggle against the bourgeoisie.

Dialectical materialism is a philosophical approach in Marxist thought that emphasizes the materialist basis of reality. It posits that all developments in society are the result of the conflict of opposites propelled by material conditions.

Historical materialism is the extension of the principles of dialectical materialism to the study of social life, asserting that material conditions and economic factors affect the organization of society and historical development.

The Labor Theory of Value posits that the economic value of a good or service is determined by the total amount of socially necessary labor required to produce it.

Means of production refers to the physical, non-human inputs used for the production of economic value, such as factories, machines, and tools. Control over the means of production by the capitalist class leads to exploitation of the working class.

Relations of production pertains to the relationships between the workers and the owners of the means of production, which stem from the economic structure of society. These relations define the allocation of labor and the distribution of wealth.

Alienation in Marxist thought refers to the separation of the worker from the product of their labor, the process of production, other workers, and their own potential. This dehumanization is a consequence of capitalism.

Commodity fetishism is a concept in which the social relationships involved in production are expressed as attributes of the goods themselves, leading to a distorted view of economic value where commodities are seen as having intrinsic value.

Revolutionary praxis in Marxist thought denotes the combination of theory and practice. It refers to the practical application of Marxist theory to incite social and political change, especially revolution by the proletariat.

The Dictatorship of the Proletariat is the state of transition in which the working class has control of political power. It's the period between the fall of capitalism and the establishment of a classless society.

Surplus value is the difference between the value produced by labor and the actual wage paid to the laborer. This surplus is a form of unpaid labor that is appropriated by the capitalist, forming the basis of profit in the capitalist system.

False consciousness is a concept where the proletariat is misled about the true nature of their social and economic situation. This misunderstanding perpetuates the status quo and hinders the development of class consciousness.

In Marxist theory, imperialism is seen as the highest stage of capitalism, encompassing the expansion of capitalist nations into foreign territories to find new markets and resources as a solution to overproduction and the crisis of capital accumulation.