Question 1(a) · 10 marks · 267 words written
Opening · a restatement
The history of hitherto existing societies is the history of class struggle according to Marx. The conflict perspective of marx takes the idea of 'exploitation' - where forces of production and consequent relation of production are dominated by one exploiting class over the exploited class.
Exploitation : The Dominant Conceptual Theme:
Body · points
(1) Man exploiting Nature for his unending needs and desires and thereby forming alienative relations is one of the central theme.
(2) Man exploits the other men in relations of production. The ownership class exploits the non ownership class by monopolizing the forces of production and control of surplus:
Primitive Communism → No surplus → Egalitarian Ancient society → Surplus → Slaves exploited by masters
Feudal society → Surplus → Serfs exploited by feudal lords Modern Society → Surplus → Capitalists exploiting workers.
(3) The unending exploitation of the workers in capitalist society will eventually result in the rise of a class for itself - i.e the subjective awareness of objective conditions of exploitation. This internal logic of greed of capitalism, along with polarization and pauperization of working class will lead to revolution against exploitation.
(4) Marx believes the surplus free communist society will be free of 'exploitation' and misery.
(5) The alienation of man from himself, process, product and peers is due to exploitation. (Fuerbach - Alienation of Self is Religion/God)
(6) Environmental Marxism focuses on the exploitation of nature by man. (7) Feminist marxism focuses on exploitation of women by patriarchy due to private property concern.
Close · a summary
The entire superstructure based on the economic substructure thus maintains and perpetuates exploitation according to marx.