Mass Society and Marxist Theory. Mass Society Economic Theories Liberalism, with its origins in the...

Mass Society and Marxist Mass Society and Marxist TheoryTheory

Mass Society Economic Mass Society Economic TheoriesTheories

Liberalism, with its origins in the Liberalism, with its origins in the writings of John Locke, favored writings of John Locke, favored Enlightenment principles of personal Enlightenment principles of personal liberty and free trade.liberty and free trade.

Liberalism was strongest among the Liberalism was strongest among the growing middle class who favored growing middle class who favored the social and economic changes the social and economic changes produced by industrialization.produced by industrialization.


Since the early 17th century, European statesmen and economists had agreed that a rising population was a sign of prosperity.

It was commonly believed that Kings should try to increase the number of their subjects because this would provide more taxpayers and soldiers, and that a bigger population was an indication of a vibrant economy.


Late 18Late 18thth-early 19-early 19thth century British century British clergyman and clergyman and economist economist Thomas Thomas MalthusMalthus (1766- (1766-1834) saw the 1834) saw the effects of the effects of the British population British population explosion and explosion and industrialization industrialization and was horrified.and was horrified.


Malthus’ vision was the murderous Malthus’ vision was the murderous competition of mankind over arable land competition of mankind over arable land and food, with the poor (the largest % of and food, with the poor (the largest % of the population) suffering the most (the the population) suffering the most (the Malthusian theoryMalthusian theory). ).

Malthus saw overcrowded slums, pollution, Malthus saw overcrowded slums, pollution, disease, unemployment, hunger…the disease, unemployment, hunger…the misery of the masses as unavoidable misery of the masses as unavoidable consequencesconsequences of industrialization because of industrialization because the population was growing faster than the the population was growing faster than the food supply.food supply.


Malthus believed the only checks on Malthus believed the only checks on population growth were nature’s population growth were nature’s “natural” methods: sexual “natural” methods: sexual abstinence, wars, disease, famine.abstinence, wars, disease, famine.

His bleak view caused him to urge His bleak view caused him to urge poor families to have fewer children, poor families to have fewer children, he discouraged charities from he discouraged charities from helping the poor, and he didn’t think helping the poor, and he didn’t think the poor should get vaccinations.the poor should get vaccinations.


Another British Another British economist, economist, David David Ricardo Ricardo (1772-1823), (1772-1823), believed that wage believed that wage increases during increases during industrialization were industrialization were futile because the futile because the increases would only increases would only cover the cost of cover the cost of necessities.necessities.


He believed that when wages were He believed that when wages were high, people would have more high, people would have more children, lowering their standard of children, lowering their standard of living.living.

Both Malthus and Ricardo opposed Both Malthus and Ricardo opposed government help for the poor.government help for the poor.


They believed the best cure for They believed the best cure for poverty was not government relief poverty was not government relief but the unrestricted “laws of the free but the unrestricted “laws of the free market.”market.”

They believed in the ideas of middle They believed in the ideas of middle class liberalism class liberalism (often referred to as (often referred to as the the Protestant Work EthicProtestant Work Ethic): ): individuals should improve their individuals should improve their situation through hard work, thrift, situation through hard work, thrift, and limiting the size of their families.and limiting the size of their families.


In 1800, British In 1800, British philosopher and economist philosopher and economist Jeremy BenthamJeremy Bentham (1748- (1748-1832) advocated the idea 1832) advocated the idea that the goal of society that the goal of society should be the “greatest should be the “greatest happiness for the greatest happiness for the greatest number” of its citizens. number” of its citizens.

All laws or actions should All laws or actions should be judged by their be judged by their usefulness or “utility.”usefulness or “utility.”


All actions (from a person, company, or All actions (from a person, company, or government) are utilitarian if they produce government) are utilitarian if they produce more pleasure and happiness or prevent more pleasure and happiness or prevent pain or unhappiness.pain or unhappiness.

Bentham strongly believed in liberalism Bentham strongly believed in liberalism (which guaranteed personal happiness (which guaranteed personal happiness through personal choice and freedom) but through personal choice and freedom) but he saw the need for the government to get he saw the need for the government to get involved in the economy under certain involved in the economy under certain circumstances.circumstances.


Bentham, like most Bentham, like most British liberals, British liberals, wanted the wanted the government to government to deregulate trade, deregulate trade, maintain the value of maintain the value of the currency, enforce the currency, enforce contracts, and contracts, and finance the military finance the military and railroads. and railroads.


Bentham was among the first to Bentham was among the first to propose that prisons should propose that prisons should rehabilitate rather than merely punish, rehabilitate rather than merely punish, that the poor should be “managed.” that the poor should be “managed.”

Bentham’s ideas of limited Bentham’s ideas of limited governmental social involvement led governmental social involvement led to the ideas of another influential to the ideas of another influential British philosopher and economist…British philosopher and economist…JohnJohn Stuart Mill Stuart Mill (1806-1873).(1806-1873).


Mill believed in Mill believed in personal personal freedoms, but freedoms, but building on building on Bentham’s ideas, Bentham’s ideas, Mill wanted the Mill wanted the government to government to step in to improve step in to improve the hard lives of the hard lives of the working class.the working class.


Mill believed that even though Mill believed that even though middle-class business and factory middle-class business and factory owners were entitled to increase owners were entitled to increase their own happiness, the government their own happiness, the government should prevent them from doing so in should prevent them from doing so in a manner that would harm the a manner that would harm the workers.workers.

In other words, they should In other words, they should not not exploitexploit the working class. the working class.


Herbert Spencer (1820-1903): Herbert Spencer (1820-1903): sometimes referred to as the second sometimes referred to as the second founder of sociology…grew up in founder of sociology…grew up in England during the Industrial England during the Industrial Revolution. Revolution.

Spencer believed (and greatly Spencer believed (and greatly promoted) the idea that no one or no promoted) the idea that no one or no government should intervene in government should intervene in society’s evolution.society’s evolution.


Spencer believed that societies evolve Spencer believed that societies evolve from lower (barbarian) to higher (civilized) from lower (barbarian) to higher (civilized) forms.forms.

As generations pass, the most capable and As generations pass, the most capable and intelligent (the “fittest”) members of intelligent (the “fittest”) members of society survive, while the less capable die society survive, while the less capable die out. So over time, societies improved. out. So over time, societies improved.

Spencer believed that if you helped the Spencer believed that if you helped the lower classes, you interfere with this lower classes, you interfere with this “natural” process.“natural” process.


Spencer theorized that the “fittest” Spencer theorized that the “fittest” members would produce a more members would produce a more advanced society—unless misguided advanced society—unless misguided do-gooders got in the way and helped do-gooders got in the way and helped those who were less fit to survive.those who were less fit to survive.

Spencer’s “survival of the fittest” idea Spencer’s “survival of the fittest” idea is usually attributed to Darwin, which is is usually attributed to Darwin, which is why it became known as why it became known as social social DarwinismDarwinism..

Socialist Thought EmergesSocialist Thought Emerges

As a reaction to the growing gulf As a reaction to the growing gulf between wealth and poverty (primarily between wealth and poverty (primarily in Britain and Germany), some middle-in Britain and Germany), some middle-class, reform-minded intellectuals class, reform-minded intellectuals began to condemn industrial began to condemn industrial capitalism.capitalism.

To end the growing poverty of the To end the growing poverty of the masses, they offered a radical masses, they offered a radical solution… solution… socialismsocialism. .


Socialists deplored economic Socialists deplored economic inequalities, as represented by the inequalities, as represented by the vast difference in wealth between a vast difference in wealth between a captain of industry and a factory captain of industry and a factory laborer.laborer.

They condemned the system that They condemned the system that permitted the exploitation of permitted the exploitation of laborers, especially women and laborers, especially women and children.children.


Early socialists wanted to expand the Early socialists wanted to expand the Enlightenment understanding of Enlightenment understanding of equality: they understood equality to equality: they understood equality to have an economic as well as a have an economic as well as a political, legal, and social dimension, political, legal, and social dimension, and they looked to the future and they looked to the future establishment of a just and equitable establishment of a just and equitable society.society.


By the 1840’s socialists considered By the 1840’s socialists considered liberalism inadequate to deal with liberalism inadequate to deal with the class inequalities caused and the class inequalities caused and perpetuated by industrialization.perpetuated by industrialization.

Socialists believed liberalism only Socialists believed liberalism only benefited the middle-class so they benefited the middle-class so they wanted to reorganize society and wanted to reorganize society and recreate it based on cooperation, not recreate it based on cooperation, not competition.competition.


Under Under socialismsocialism, , the people as a wholethe people as a whole (rather than the wealthy few) (rather than the wealthy few) would own would own and operate the means of productionand operate the means of production (the (the farms, factories, railways, and other large farms, factories, railways, and other large businesses that produced and distributed businesses that produced and distributed goods). goods).

Some early socialists established Some early socialists established communities where all work was shared communities where all work was shared and all property was owned in common.and all property was owned in common.

Socialist Thought EmergesSocialist Thought Emerges These early socialists These early socialists

were called were called Utopians Utopians (implying that they (implying that they were impractical were impractical dreamers).dreamers).

When there was no When there was no difference between difference between rich and poor, they rich and poor, they believed most human believed most human conflict and misery conflict and misery would end.would end.

Robert OwenRobert Owen


The Utopian Robert The Utopian Robert Owen (1771-1858) Owen (1771-1858) set up a model set up a model community in New community in New Lanark, Scotland to Lanark, Scotland to put his ideas into put his ideas into practice.practice.

Between 1815 and Between 1815 and 1825, over 20,000 1825, over 20,000 people visited New people visited New Lanark to study Lanark to study Owen’s reforms.Owen’s reforms.


Owen was a successful mill owner Owen was a successful mill owner (who was poor growing up). Unlike (who was poor growing up). Unlike most industrialists of the day, he most industrialists of the day, he refused to use child labor.refused to use child labor.

Owen pressed the British Owen pressed the British government for laws that limited government for laws that limited child labor, reforms in working hours, child labor, reforms in working hours, education, and he encouraged the education, and he encouraged the organization of labor unions.organization of labor unions.


Owen believed that the conditions Owen believed that the conditions which people lived in shaped their which people lived in shaped their character. character.

He reduced working hoursHe reduced working hours (10, instead (10, instead of 12-17 in other factories), of 12-17 in other factories), built homes built homes for his workers, started a school for for his workers, started a school for children of the workers, and opened a children of the workers, and opened a company store where workers could company store where workers could buy food and clothes at fair prices.buy food and clothes at fair prices.

Owen showed that an employer could Owen showed that an employer could make a profit while treating workers make a profit while treating workers with respect and dignity.with respect and dignity.

Socialist Thought EmergesSocialist Thought Emerges At New Lanark, Owen had Jeremy Bentham At New Lanark, Owen had Jeremy Bentham

as a partner.as a partner. Education for the worker’s children included Education for the worker’s children included

a nursery school, among the first in Great a nursery school, among the first in Great Britain.Britain.

In 1825, Owen left New Lanark to start a In 1825, Owen left New Lanark to start a new cooperative agricultural community in new cooperative agricultural community in New Harmony, Indiana. New Harmony, Indiana.

When this community failed, Owen returned When this community failed, Owen returned to Britain to help establish the trade union to Britain to help establish the trade union movement, another important legacy.movement, another important legacy.


The ideas of the Utopian socialists (like The ideas of the Utopian socialists (like Owen) resonated widely in the nineteenth Owen) resonated widely in the nineteenth century, and their followers established century, and their followers established utopian communities from eastern utopian communities from eastern Europe to the United States.Europe to the United States.

But most of these communities failed, so But most of these communities failed, so the socialists turned to the large-scale the socialists turned to the large-scale organization of working people as the organization of working people as the best means to bring about a just and best means to bring about a just and equitable society. equitable society.

Socialist Thought EmergesSocialist Thought Emerges In the 1840’s, the German philosopher In the 1840’s, the German philosopher

and historian and historian Karl MarxKarl Marx (1818-1883) (1818-1883) condemned the ideas of the Utopians condemned the ideas of the Utopians as unrealistic.as unrealistic.

He developed a new theory called He developed a new theory called ““scientific socialismscientific socialism” which was based ” which was based on the scientific method in its study of on the scientific method in its study of history.history.

Marxist TheoryMarxist Theory

Made its first appearance Made its first appearance in 1848 with the in 1848 with the publication of the publication of the Communist Manifesto.Communist Manifesto.

Written by Marx and Written by Marx and Friedrich Engels, another Friedrich Engels, another 1919thth century German century German intellectual, philosopher intellectual, philosopher and socialist, the and socialist, the ManifestoManifesto is considered to is considered to be be the most important the most important political document of the political document of the 1919thth century. century.


Marxism as an Marxism as an intellectual theory is intellectual theory is persuasive because it is persuasive because it is egalitarian (meaning egalitarian (meaning advocating full political advocating full political and social equality); the and social equality); the ManifestoManifesto was an was an indictment of the awful indictment of the awful living and working living and working conditions caused by the conditions caused by the Industrial Revolution.Industrial Revolution.

Marxist TheoryMarxist Theory The Manifesto held that The Manifesto held that

capitalism divided people capitalism divided people into two main classes, into two main classes, each with its own each with its own economic interests and economic interests and social status: the social status: the capitalists or capitalists or bourgeoisiebourgeoisie, who owned , who owned the industrial machinery the industrial machinery and factories (the “means and factories (the “means of production”) of production”)


And the And the proletariatproletariat, who , who were the were the wageworkers, who wageworkers, who only had their labor only had their labor to sell to the to sell to the capitalistic owning capitalistic owning class in order to class in order to stay alive. stay alive.

Marxist TheoryMarxist Theory The Manifesto was a The Manifesto was a call for the workers call for the workers

(the (the proletariatproletariat ) ) to rise up against to rise up against those awful conditions and those who those awful conditions and those who oppress them oppress them (the (the bourgeoisiebourgeoisie).).


Marxist theory held that since the beginning of Marxist theory held that since the beginning of time, economic conditions and institutions of time, economic conditions and institutions of private property have been the driving force of private property have been the driving force of history (i.e. history (i.e. greed has driven people to do greed has driven people to do what they’ve donewhat they’ve done).).

In sociology, this created what’s known as the In sociology, this created what’s known as the Conflict TheoryConflict Theory..

Private property gave rise to rival economic Private property gave rise to rival economic classes (classes (the haves vs. the have-notsthe haves vs. the have-nots). In ). In general, the exploiting owning class and the general, the exploiting owning class and the oppressed laboring class develop.oppressed laboring class develop.


Marxist theory stated that this new Marxist theory stated that this new capitalistic/industrial system was capitalistic/industrial system was destructively competitive. As it spreads destructively competitive. As it spreads and intensifies, more will fall into the and intensifies, more will fall into the proletariat and there will be fewer proletariat and there will be fewer bourgeoisie (the Wal-Mart syndrome).bourgeoisie (the Wal-Mart syndrome).

Eventually the proletariat would rise up Eventually the proletariat would rise up and overthrow the few bourgeoisie that and overthrow the few bourgeoisie that were left (creating the revolution).were left (creating the revolution).


The The Communist Communist ManifestoManifesto ended with a call ended with a call for workers to for workers to unite—creating a unite—creating a Communist Communist RevolutionRevolution. .


In this revolution, In this revolution, they would be led they would be led by the by the vanguard of the proletariat, the , the intellectual intellectual leadership of those leadership of those who understood who understood the workings of the workings of world history.world history.


Right after the revolution, a Right after the revolution, a dictatorship of the proletariatdictatorship of the proletariat would would emerge for a short period of autocratic emerge for a short period of autocratic power to ensure that the revolution power to ensure that the revolution would stick.would stick.

The theory proposed that the state The theory proposed that the state would eventually wither away and there would eventually wither away and there would be no need to protect class would be no need to protect class differences (or national borders) since differences (or national borders) since there would be none.there would be none.


The revolution would abolish private The revolution would abolish private property.property.

Everything (i.e. all property) would Everything (i.e. all property) would belong to the state.belong to the state.

This would end all the divisions This would end all the divisions between economic classes (the between economic classes (the Robin Hood EffectRobin Hood Effect-no more -no more haves/have nots). haves/have nots).

Humanity would now live in peace Humanity would now live in peace and cooperative harmony.and cooperative harmony.


Religion (Marx called it “the opiate of Religion (Marx called it “the opiate of the people”) and the state would the people”) and the state would disappear since both institutions were disappear since both institutions were developed by their own classes in the developed by their own classes in the past to protect their interests and past to protect their interests and keep the exploited classes down.keep the exploited classes down.

The goal was to have a freer, more The goal was to have a freer, more equal world where each person would equal world where each person would contribute what they had and get contribute what they had and get what they needwhat they need..


What would replace the state was never What would replace the state was never made very clear…Marx was more made very clear…Marx was more concerned with the revolution than what concerned with the revolution than what would happen after it occurred. would happen after it occurred.

This vision is what led to the great This vision is what led to the great political revolutions of the 20th century: political revolutions of the 20th century: the Bolshevik Revolution of 1917 and the Bolshevik Revolution of 1917 and the Chinese Revolution of 1949 (and the the Chinese Revolution of 1949 (and the Cuban Revolution of 1959 and several Cuban Revolution of 1959 and several others).others).

Marxist TheoryMarxist Theory In the 1860’s, Marx’s vision led German In the 1860’s, Marx’s vision led German

socialists to create “socialists to create “social democracysocial democracy.”.” This was a gradual shift from a capitalistic This was a gradual shift from a capitalistic

system to a more socialistic one (rather than system to a more socialistic one (rather than the violent overthrowing that Marx the violent overthrowing that Marx predicted).predicted).

Many countries (including our own) practice Many countries (including our own) practice some form of social democracy.some form of social democracy.

True or absolute Marxism though, has been a True or absolute Marxism though, has been a failure. The Soviet Union, China, North Korea, failure. The Soviet Union, China, North Korea, Cuba, and others perverted Marx’s ideas.Cuba, and others perverted Marx’s ideas.

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