Is Marxism Still Relevant Today Essay - 2189 Words

The Industrial Revolution (1750-1850) had brought about significant changes in agriculture, mining, manufacturing, transportation and technology and subsequently established an era of unprecedented economic growth in capitalist economies. It was within this era that Karl Marx had observed the deprivation and inequality experienced by men of the proletariat, the working class, who had laboured excessively for hours under inhumane conditions to earn a minimum wage while the bourgeoisie, the capitalist class, reaped the benefits. For Marx it was this fundamental inequality within the social and economic hierarchy that had enabled capitalist societies to function. While Marx’s theories, in many instances have been falsified and predictions†¦show more content†¦Considering that as of 2010, 45.4% of the Australian labour force comprised of women it would seem that Marx’s socialist perspective is less so equal or relevant in contemporary society. Marxism is often cited as being irrelevant within contemporary society due to the fact that Marx had critiqued an almost incomparable society. McDonald Brownlee (2001) argue that contemporary society exists in a post-modern era where westernised societies enjoy the benefits of higher living standards, where the rights of employees are elicited within the Australian Constitution and the rights of humans are dictated within Geneva conventions. An era where employees are entitled to government pensions, allowances, superannuation, and employees accrue sick and annual leave (McDonald Brownlee, 2001). Furthermore employees are able to seek union representation and are legally entitled to industrial action. McDonald and Brownlee (2001) assert that Fair Work Australia, established as an institution responsible for fixating minimum wage and resolving work related disputes, perpetuates the notion that Australia is in transition to become an egalitarian society with minimal class disparity . Critics have also argued that Marxism within western society is no longerShow MoreRelatedThe Basic Concepts Of Marxism1460 Words   |  6 Pagesantagonism still exists in the present day, but in a different form and scale from antagonism Marx described during his time. Having mentioned Occupy Wall Street, a clear present day example of class antagonism, I would like to argue that Marxism is still very relevant in the 21st century, serving as a crucial political and social idea that shapes our present. To present my arguments, I will first retrace the basic concepts of Marxism, and elaborate on how of some Marxist ideas still apply to theRead MoreKarl Marx And The Communist Manifesto Essay1691 Words   |  7 Pageswas written collaboratively by both Marx and Engels, as they explored the argument that â€Å"history and progress can be seen dialectically as societies shift from one mode of production to another†. 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