Question

What did marx predict was the future of the proletariat

Answer 1

Karl Marx predicted that the proletariat would overthrow capitalism and establish communism, a classless society with the equitable distribution of resources. Contrary to his anticipation, the revolution occurred in less industrialized Russia, and post-revolution governance diverged significantly from Marx's ideals.

Step-by-step explanation:

Karl Marx predicted a future where the proletariat, or the working class, would rise up against the oppressive capitalist system. Marx believed that capitalist inequalities would intensify to such a point that workers would inevitably revolt, leading to the overthrow of capitalism and its replacement with communism. In Marx's envisioned communist society, there would be no private or corporate ownership; the means of production would be controlled by the workers or their government, leading to an equitable distribution of resources and the end of economic classes.

Marx's theory suggested that the working class would develop class consciousness and, joined by a global solidarity that transcends nations and ethnicities, would establish an international dictatorship of the proletariat. This dictatorship would not be oppressive but rather a precursor to a stateless, classless society where everyone could share in material comfort and creative freedom. Influenced by the ideas of Rousseau, Marx idealized such a society as one characterized by peace, justice, and the full realization of human potential.

Despite Marx's predictions, history unfolded differently. The Russian Revolution occurred in a context that Marx had not anticipated; industrialization was not as advanced as in other countries, and the working class was not as predominant. Moreover, the aftermath of the communist revolution in Russia and the subsequent governance by the communist party sharply contrasted with Marx’s ideals, leading to widespread criticism and doubt about the feasibility of Marxist theory.

Answer 2

Karl Marx predicted that the future of the proletariat, the working class, would be marked by a revolution against the bourgeoisie, the capitalists who owned the means of production. He believed that as the contradictions between the proletariat and bourgeoisie became increasingly sharp, the working class would become conscious of their exploitation and unite to overthrow the capitalist system. According to Marx, this would lead to the establishment of a socialist society in which the means of production would be collectively owned and controlled, and the exploitation of one class by another would come to an end. Ultimately, Marx believed that this would lay the foundation for a classless society, known as communism.