Karl Marx is a name that for nearly 200 years has been widely criticized. But, why is that the case? At first glance, it may seem as though Marx’s ideas are controversial. The critique of capitalism, a system that according to prevailing scholars, politicians, and powerful businessmen (in short, the “experts”), “while not perfect, still works,” does not sit well in the United States, which is founded upon the principles of capitalism. Some could also say that in looking at history, every nation that has turned communist fails economically. All these factors give the West many reasons to critique communism and Marx. However, if one actually sits down to read and study what Marx literally said, one will find that many of his predictions about the flaws of capitalism are relevant. The fact that he has become a symbol of negativity in education ultimately proves his point, that capitalism not only has deep flaws, but also protects itself from anything that is considered a threat.
Many people believe that Marx’s principles inspired Vladimir Lenin, who went on to become the founder of the Soviet Union and would impact the course of the 20th century. However, Marx would not have agreed to what Lenin’s version of Communism was. Marx didn’t have a clear resolution for the future after capitalism but he did state that he believed the proletariat, the laborers, could pave a better future.
Contrary to popular belief, Marx did not see capitalism as bad, in fact, he actually believed capitalism brought some of the best principles and teachings that the world had ever seen up to that point. He supported its efficiency and ability to produce material goods. Marx also believed that capitalism gave people a drive to develop more technological advancements such as steam engines, steel production, and factory machines. However, Marx also foresaw fatal flaws in capitalism, something that deeply concerned him as he saw so much potential in this new rising system.
In Marx’s critique of capitalism, he states that there is a social hierarchy that is divided between two classes. The first is the ruling class, or the bourgeoisie, which has a powerful influence over both the economy and politics that define society. Secondly, there’s the lower class, or proletariat, which, while large in size, is often subjugated to labor, exploitation, and condescending attitudes from the ruling class. In Marx’s analysis, he believes that the proletariat will realize that they outnumber the ruling class and take the responsibility of reforming society with policies beyond capitalism that promise peace, prosperity, and opportunity for all. Karl Mark would have felt pity for both classes as he believed that they were both victims of the system of capitalism.
In his writings, Marx acknowledges that humans are social beings and that this is one of their most important qualities. It is the proletariat, Marx believes, who are the most exposed to the social struggles, hardships, and displeasures that come in life. It is for this reason that Marx believed the proletariat is the group destined to resolve all the issues that the bourgeoisie subconsciously inflict.
Marx’s biggest concern was that capitalism would eventually cause alienation in the masses. There are four types of alienation he described (i) alienation from what one produces, (ii) alienation from the process of labor, (iii) alienation from one’s own humanity, and (iv) alienation from society. I believe if you look at society today you can find many instances of this alienation. Marx saw the bourgeoisie as corrupted and detached from their moral compass driven by an obsessive need to constantly produce more capital. It should be noted that people born into the upper class have more time, money, and resources compared to those born in the middle class or lower class. Yet, people born in the bourgeoisie still strive to make as much money as possible, even though they have the time and resources to take a step back and find out who they are as an individual. This is because capitalism is a system that implants the belief that capital is the ultimate goal. This belief is further reinforced in the nurturing of people born in the ruling class, by their parents, education, and society, who repetitively tell them they are correct and others are wrong.
If I step back from the theory of Marx and think about what I see today I can see that many of my peers are falling into similar traps as previous generations. For example, many students considering college majors choose to go into STEM and Business/Finance rather than the liberal arts. Young adults from this generation are frequently told that they needs to become productive members of society and that passions like art, music, literature, and history, don’t contribute to society. This is a fallacy perpetuated by extreme capitalism. Furthermore, I believe, that many of these students may come to realize decades from now they should have followed their hearts more. Or, at least, they should have sought a balance between making a standard living and pursuing what would make them happy. There is a very real risk they may wake up one day feeling unfulfilled having only chased money and image. Everybody, no matter where they come from should have an equal opportunity to find happiness in society.