Sejarah Konsep Perjuangan Kelas(2): Perjuangan Kelas Berkelanjutan

Summary

In this video, the speaker discusses the evolution of class struggle, exploring historical and contemporary perspectives on social inequality. Drawing on liberal thinkers like Alexis de Tocqueville and John Stuart Mill, the video critiques the idea of universal prosperity in capitalist systems and highlights the stark disparities between wealthy nations and the Global South. The speaker questions the sustainability of the capitalist structure, pointing to systemic exploitation and class antagonisms that persist across time, emphasizing the importance of collective movements over individual moral judgments in the fight for social justice and equality.

Takeaways

• 😀 The concept of class struggle is central to the script, examining the division between bourgeois and proletariat in society.
• 😀 The script questions whether universal prosperity can be achieved in a capitalist society, where vast inequalities exist between different regions.
• 😀 Alexis de Tocqueville, a liberal thinker, believed industrial progress could eliminate social classes, but later argued that exploitative relations between workers and capitalists would persist.
• 😀 John Stuart Mill, another liberal thinker, emphasized that voting and political representation were primarily controlled by the wealthy, perpetuating class inequality.
• 😀 The script critiques the assumption that wealth and peace would naturally result from capitalist progress, pointing to ongoing conflicts and exploitation.
• 😀 The rise of the bourgeoisie did not end class antagonism but instead created new forms of class struggle, including the conflict between the bourgeoisie and proletariat.
• 😀 Despite global expansion of capitalism, deep disparities persist between the Global North (e.g., Europe, USA) and the Global South (e.g., parts of Asia, India).
• 😀 Marx's perspective suggests that peace is only achievable in a world where workers control the means of production and exploitation is eradicated.
• 😀 Historical and contemporary capitalist practices have led to numerous conflicts, including wars, as imperialist powers vie for resources and control.
• 😀 The script stresses that class struggle is not just a moral issue but a systemic one, perpetuated by the structural dynamics of capitalism.

Q & A

What is the central theme of the transcript?

The central theme of the transcript is the analysis of class struggle, particularly within the context of capitalism, and the differences in societal conditions across the world. It questions the feasibility of universal prosperity under capitalist systems and discusses how class relations shape societies.

How does Alexis de Tocqueville view industrial progress and class relations?

Alexis de Tocqueville believed that industrial progress would eventually eliminate class distinctions and castes in society, leading to a more prosperous and equal world. However, he later acknowledged that the exploitative relationship between workers and capitalists could not be entirely eradicated, as it was essential for maintaining societal order.

What role does John Stuart Mill attribute to intellectuals and capitalists in voting systems?

John Stuart Mill suggested that in England, voting was primarily conducted by business owners and intellectuals, who formed a privileged class. He argued that the political system disproportionately favored these individuals, which allowed them to maintain power and benefit from the existing capital accumulation.

How does the transcript address the issue of global inequality?

The transcript highlights the significant disparity between the Global North (e.g., Europe, the U.S.) and the Global South (e.g., parts of India and Southeast Asia). It argues that universal prosperity is not achievable in the current capitalist system, which perpetuates vast inequalities and divisions between different regions of the world.

What does the Communist Manifesto say about the rise of the bourgeoisie?

The Communist Manifesto states that the rise of the bourgeoisie, which emerged from the ruins of feudal society, did not end class antagonism. Instead, it gave birth to new class struggles between the bourgeoisie and the proletariat, leading to new forms of oppression and exploitation.

Why does the transcript question the idea of a peaceful, prosperous world in capitalist society?

The transcript questions this idea by pointing to the historical evidence of conflict, such as wars and exploitation, that arose under capitalist systems. It critiques the notion that industrialization and progress would create a world without conflict, highlighting instead how capitalism leads to resource struggles, colonialism, and class-based tensions.

What does Marx mean by the phrase 'free market destroys national boundaries'?

Marx's phrase 'free market destroys national boundaries' refers to how the global expansion of capitalism undermines national sovereignty and creates conditions for class struggle to transcend borders. As capitalism spreads, the primary conflict becomes the one between the bourgeoisie and the proletariat, rather than conflicts between nation-states.

How does Marx's view on peace differ from that of liberal thinkers like Tocqueville and Mill?

While liberal thinkers like Tocqueville and Mill envisioned peace through industrial progress and the elimination of class distinctions, Marx believed that true peace could only be achieved in a society where the proletariat controlled the means of production, ending capitalist exploitation. Marx argued that peace was impossible under a system that perpetuates class struggles.

What is the significance of the example of slavery in the context of class struggle?

The example of slavery is used to illustrate the persistent nature of exploitation. Marxists believe that slavery, whether in feudal or capitalist societies, represents a foundational form of oppression. The transcript argues that even though slavery has taken different forms over time, exploitation persists under capitalism, particularly with wage labor where workers remain exploited by capitalists.

What does the transcript say about the potential for individual change within the capitalist system?

The transcript argues that change cannot be achieved by individual actions alone, as the issue is structural and systemic. It emphasizes that the responsibility for change lies with collective movements rather than moral condemnation of individuals. Even those within the bourgeoisie may feel trapped by the system, but true transformation requires mass action against the structural inequalities inherent in capitalism.