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'''Social classes''' are categories that define where one stands in society, and with whom | '''Social classes''' are categories that define where one stands in society, and with whom they share common goals and interests. | ||
In [[Marxism|Marxist theory]], social | In [[Marxism|Marxist theory]], there exist two social classes in [[contradiction]]: the exploiters and the exploited. This is a constant in all human societies. | ||
The birth of social classes is closely tied to the creation of the [[state]] as a tool of [[oppression]], the two being dependent on one another. | |||
== Pre-Industrial society == | |||
== | === Slave society === | ||
Perhaps the first form of state society, slave societies depended on the exploitation of unpaid labour, performed by slaves, to survive and reproduce their mode of production. One such example was ancient Rome, though slavery was virtually practised as the dominant [[mode of production]] around the world for most of human state society. In such societies, slaves were bought once and for all, and worked their whole lives to produce [[surplus value]] for their owner. In this way, a slave was a heavy investment especially as it was difficult to tell how many years the slave would be productive. | |||
In | |||
It is thought that one factor that led to the decline of slave society in antiquity was the exponential need for more slaves as time went on. Slave societies needed to procure slaves from somewhere (which led ancient Rome to their large conquests), as slave owners were in competition with one another and always looking to expand their operations. More slaves also require more logistics and infrastructure, which translates into more labour. | It is thought that one factor that led to the decline of slave society in antiquity was the exponential need for more slaves as time went on. Slave societies needed to procure slaves from somewhere (which led ancient Rome to their large conquests), as slave owners were in competition with one another and always looking to expand their operations. More slaves also require more logistics and infrastructure, which translates into more labour. | ||
=== Feudal society === | |||
In feudal society, particularly taking the example of the European Middle Ages, two dominant social classes existed: the serf and the noble. Serfs were tied to their lord's land possessions (the noble). For the privilege of being allowed to work the soil, they had to provide their lord with a fraction of their harvest or regular free labour (the corvée). It is important to note that serfs owned the means of production, that is the soil, the animals and the tools they used. | In feudal society, particularly taking the example of the European Middle Ages, two dominant social classes existed: the serf and the noble. Serfs were tied to their lord's land possessions (the noble). For the privilege of being allowed to work the soil, they had to provide their lord with a fraction of their harvest or regular free labour (the corvée). It is important to note that serfs owned the means of production, that is the soil, the animals and the tools they used. | ||
=== Renaissance society === | |||
Around the time of the Renaissance in Europe, a new social class emerged: the bourgeoisie (used here as a pre-Marxian term, not to be confused with the capitalist bourgeoisie). These new land owners opened businesses in free cities, free from any lord or clergy. As their existence was in contradiction to the class of the nobility, this created various clashes in history, some perhaps best exemplified by the [[European wars of religion]]. Since an exploitative class needs another to exploit, the bourgeoisie naturally created the free workers, or journeymen, who were free in the sense that they did not belong to a lord, but had to sell their labour to the bourgeoisie by the day to survive. These citizens, the bourgeoisie, formed guilds with which to consolidate their power and wealth. | Around the time of the Renaissance in Europe, a new social class emerged: the bourgeoisie (used here as a pre-Marxian term, not to be confused with the capitalist bourgeoisie). These new land owners opened businesses in free cities, free from any lord or clergy. As their existence was in contradiction to the class of the nobility, this created various clashes in history, some perhaps best exemplified by the [[European wars of religion]]. Since an exploitative class needs another to exploit, the bourgeoisie naturally created the free workers, or journeymen, who were free in the sense that they did not belong to a lord, but had to sell their labour to the bourgeoisie by the day to survive. These citizens, the bourgeoisie, formed guilds with which to consolidate their power and wealth. | ||
== Industrial societies == | |||
=== Industrial Revolution === | |||
The Industrial Revolution, generally considered to have taken place between 1760 and 1840, saw the arrival of the first semi-automated or automated machines, and marked the transition from hand-production to machine-production. These major shifts in the means of production meant that the relations of production would change as well. As manufactures developed, they became the first factories: a place where many workers are concentrated and work for the benefit of their employer, with the large amounts of surplus value thus created being seized by the manufacture owner. | The Industrial Revolution, generally considered to have taken place between 1760 and 1840, saw the arrival of the first semi-automated or automated machines, and marked the transition from hand-production to machine-production. These major shifts in the means of production meant that the relations of production would change as well. As manufactures developed, they became the first factories: a place where many workers are concentrated and work for the benefit of their employer, with the large amounts of surplus value thus created being seized by the manufacture owner. | ||
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The proletariat has nothing to sell but their labour-power (their capacity to work). The bourgeois owns so much capital that he does not need to work to survive. Yet their existence is only possible by exploiting the labour of the proletariat. | The proletariat has nothing to sell but their labour-power (their capacity to work). The bourgeois owns so much capital that he does not need to work to survive. Yet their existence is only possible by exploiting the labour of the proletariat. | ||
=== Modern capitalism === | |||
In modern times, capitalism remains the dominant mode of production in the world though the relations to the means of production have somewhat changed from the industrial revolution in the [[imperial core]] (the most developed capitalist nations). In exploited countries, we see other classes and relations to the means of production operating. | In modern times, capitalism remains the dominant mode of production in the world though the relations to the means of production have somewhat changed from the industrial revolution in the [[imperial core]] (the most developed capitalist nations). In exploited countries, we see other classes and relations to the means of production operating. | ||
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We see today the petty bourgeois class emerging in most capitalist countries; this is the class of people that own means of production, but must still work alongside their employees to survive. While this class has more in common with the proletariat (as they still perform labour and are subject to competition from the more powerful bourgeois class), we see that their class interests align with the bourgeoisie, as they hope to become full-fledged bourgeois rather than go back to being a proletarian. | We see today the petty bourgeois class emerging in most capitalist countries; this is the class of people that own means of production, but must still work alongside their employees to survive. While this class has more in common with the proletariat (as they still perform labour and are subject to competition from the more powerful bourgeois class), we see that their class interests align with the bourgeoisie, as they hope to become full-fledged bourgeois rather than go back to being a proletarian. | ||
=== Imperialised countries === | |||
In imperialised | In imperialised countries -- countries suffering from imperialism at the hand of the imperial core -- we see a new class emerging: the comprador class, composed of local bourgeois subservient to their imperial masters. While their interests are often aligned towards realizing sovereignty (liberating their country from imperialism), they remain bourgeois and hope that through national liberation, they will be able to exploit without being exploited. In some socialist revolutions, such as Cuba or Vietnam, the comprador class was used because their interest in sovereignty was aligned with the proletariat. They were then disbanded as a class (dispossessed of their private property) when the new government took office. | ||
== Socialist societies == | |||