The Influence of Materialism on Politics: An Examination Through the Lens of Karl Marx's Perspective
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.61506/01.00040Keywords:
Materialism, Politics, MarxismAbstract
Karl Marx's penetrating analysis of the nexus between materialism and politics offers a paradigm-shifting framework that transcends conventional political ideologies. The commodification of political processes, a cornerstone of Marx's perspective, delineates a departure from liberal theories by asserting that under capitalism, political actions become commodified tools serving the interests of the ruling class. This challenges prevailing notions of political autonomy, revealing elections and governance mechanisms as instruments perpetuating existing capitalist structures. Moreover, Marx's emphasis on class struggle as a primary force in political evolution distinguishes his perspective from conservative views, urging a scrutiny of political decisions through the lens of economic interests. The theory of alienation introduces a human dimension to political analysis, contending that capitalism estranges individuals not only from their labor but also from their essential humanity, influencing political engagement. Contrary to historical analyses emphasizing abstract notions, Marx's historical materialism roots societal changes in shifts in the material conditions of production. This challenges liberal narratives, highlighting that transitions, such as from feudalism to capitalism, are profound transformations of economic foundations that, in turn, shape political systems. Marx's perspective encourages a nuanced understanding of the intricate connections between materialism and politics, urging a reevaluation of the impact of economic determinants, class dynamics, human experience, and historical material conditions on the political landscape.
References
Churchland, P. M. (1981). Eliminative Materialism and the Propositional Attitudes. Journal of Philosophy, 78(2), 67-90.
Hobbes, T. (1651). Leviathan.
Hochschild, A. R. (1995). The Commercialization of Intimate Life: Notes from Home and Work. University of California Press.
Inglehart, R., & Welzel, C. (2005). Modernization, Cultural Change, and Democracy: The Human Development Sequence. Cambridge University Press.
Kim, J. (1999). Making Sense of Emergence. Philosophical Studies, 95(1-2), 3-36.
Lipset, S. M. (1959). Some Social Requisites of Democracy: Economic Development and Political Legitimacy. The American Political Science Review, 53(1), 69-105.
Locke, J. (1689). Two Treatises of Government.
Marx, K. (1844). Economic and Philosophical Manuscripts of 1844.
Marx, K. (1859). A Contribution to the Critique of Political Economy.
Marx, K. (1867). Das Kapital, Volume I.
Marx, K., & Engels, F. (1845). The German Ideology.
Marx, K., & Engels, F. (1848). The Communist Manifesto.
Mill, J. S. (1859). On Liberty.
Morgenthau, H. J. (1948). Politics Among Nations: The Struggle for Power and Peace.
Naess, A. (1973). The Shallow and the Deep, Long-Range Ecology Movement: A Summary. Inquiry, 16(1-4), 95-100.
Putnam, R. D. (2000). Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community. Simon & Schuster.
Ritzer, G. (2001). Explorations in the Sociology of Consumption: Fast Food, Credit Cards and Casinos. Sage Publications.
Shiva, V. (1988). Staying Alive: Women, Ecology, and Development.
Smart, J. J. C. (1959). Sensations and Brain Processes. Philosophical Review, 68(2), 141-156.
Stiglitz, J. E. (2012). The Price of Inequality: How Today's Divided Society Endangers Our Future. W. W. Norton & Company.
Walby, S. (1990). Theorizing Patriarchy. Sociology, 24(2), 213-234.
Waltz, K. (1979). Theory of International Politics.
Wendt, A. (1999). Social Theory of International Politics.
Wilkinson, R. G., & Pickett, K. (2009). The Spirit Level: Why Greater Equality Makes Societies Stronger. Bloomsbury Press.
Young, I. M. (1990). Throwing Like a Girl and Other Essays in Feminist Philosophy and Social Theory.
