Final answer:
The Marxist principle explained by the quote "The history of all hitherto existing society is the history of class struggles" is that the ongoing class conflict will lead to the proletariat overthrowing the bourgeoisie, creating a classless society. This aligns with option D, advocating for a society without socioeconomic classes, as the ultimate goal of Marxism.
Step-by-step explanation:
The quote from Karl Marx, "The history of all hitherto existing society is the history of class struggles," helps to explain a principle of Marxism that envisions a society without socioeconomic classes. This concept is one where the class struggle leads to the overthrow of capitalist structures, transitioning through socialism to eventually reach a classless, communist society.
Marx's analysis of history through the lens of class conflict suggests that every historical era witnessed clashes between the ruling classes who control the means of production, and the oppressed, whose labor is exploited. According to Marxism, this ongoing struggle is expected to culminate in a revolutionary change where the proletariat (working class) will overthrow the bourgeoisie (capitalist class), leading to a society where the means of production are communally owned, eradicating the class system entirely.
The quote directly opposes the idea that the means of production should remain in the hands of the upper class (option A), that socialism won't uphold the rights of the working class (option B), or that society should be a competition between classes (option C). Therefore, the correct answer is D. The best society is one without socioeconomic classes.