Historical materialism Definition: We explain what historical materialism is, who its creators were, how they understand history and the modes of production they find in it.
What is historical materialism?
Historical materialism is a theory of analysis proposed by Karl Marx (1818-1883) and Friedrich Engels (1820-1895) to understand human history from the point of view of the struggle of social classes for control of the means of production.
This theory provides a vision of history and society from a materialist perspective, that is, focusing on the material conditions of human existence, such as production and relations between social classes. Furthermore, it opposes the traditional bourgeois interpretation, which understands history as the history of ideas and of “great men.” You must read this Eroticism also!
From the Marxist point of view, history is the history of the “class struggle.” In this sense, revolutions are explained by the conflict between two or more social classes that try to take over the means of production and thus establish an economic system in accordance with their desires and needs.
For Marx and Engels, the contradiction between productive forces and production relations (or, more simply, between those who do the work and those who manage the economy) is the driving force of history: it is what has driven change in our societies since ancient times.
Origin of the term: The term historical materialism was not used by Marx, but was later coined by the Russian Marxist theorist Georgy Plekhanov (1856-1918) and used by Engels after Marx’s death.
Stages of humanity according to historical materialism
For Marx and Engels, different stages can be recognized in human history according to the predominant modes of production in each period:
Primitive communism
This was the subsistence economy of small communities of hunter-gatherers during the Paleolithic period. It was an economy in which everything obtained was shared and which did not allow the accumulation of goods. Since there was no individual property, there were no social classes. You must read this Matter and Energy also!
Slave mode of production
The slave mode of production, born with the discovery of agriculture, was typical of ancient civilizations, which sustained their food production with slave labor. In this model, the privileged social classes enjoyed free time and dedicated it to military improvement, the development of the arts and culture.
Feudal mode of production
This system was typical of the European Middle Ages, and made land ownership the most important economic factor. He distinguished between landed aristocrats and serfs. The latter cultivated the lands of the feudal lords in exchange for protection, justice and social stability.
Capitalist mode of production
This system was born with the Industrial Revolution, in which a large part of the peasantry was transformed into the working class. The bourgeoisie, owner of large capitals and factories, became the exploiting class and benefited from the workers’ work.
Historical materialism and scientific communism
Historical materialism is a theory that made its contribution to the Marxist aspiration of a scientific communism. Marx and Engels sought to create a political doctrine that was based on a rational, explainable and verifiable conceptual apparatus, that is, on a materialist conception of history.
In this sense, they argued that the struggle of the working class should be guided to achieve socialism and then communism, as the following stages in the history of humanity:
Socialism
Capitalism would create the conditions for its own overcoming. The struggle of the working class would lead to the seizure of power and the creation of socialism, as a transition between capitalism and communism. In socialism, the means of production would become collective property and the State would fulfill the role of organizing production in order to satisfy the needs of society as a whole.
Communism
Communism would be a classless society, without private property and without a State, where each individual would contribute according to his abilities and receive according to his needs.
Contributions of historical materialism
Although this concept is closely linked to Marxist thought, it has been extremely useful in the theoretical elaboration of the study of history, even by academics and thinkers not affiliated with Marxism.
This theoretical framework is important because it has a critical approach to history and is based on the material relations of production. In addition, it provides tools to analyze the productive structures and forces that shape the relations that characterize a society.
On the other hand, historical materialism allows us to identify the repetition of certain patterns throughout history and to understand certain trends that exist in the long term.
Criticisms of historical materialism
The materialist conception of history is criticized for basing economic determinism, that is, reducing history to the material relations between people and denying the influence of other areas of human experience, such as culture and ideas.
In addition, it has been criticized for simplifying the history of humanity. Its categories of analysis are not applicable in many societies and it is considered that reducing social relations to the struggle between two classes defined by their economic position takes away value from other important issues.
On the other hand, the little attention to the agency of individuals is discussed. This is because historical materialism focuses its analysis on social structures and minimizes the ability of individuals to influence the future of their societies.
Frequently asked questions
Who created historical materialism?
Historical materialism was created by Marx and Engels. They explained this theory in different publications, such as The Communist Manifesto (1848), The German Ideology (1845) and Contribution to the Critique of Political Economy (1859).
What are the basic principles of historical materialism?
The basic principles of historical materialism postulate that the relations of production, influenced by material conditions, drive the dialectical development of history through the class struggle, manifested in different modes of production.
What are the stages of history according to historical materialism?
The analysis of historical materialism identified the main stages that humanity went through in an evolutionary manner, linked to a mode of production that defined social relations: primitive communism, slavery, feudalism and capitalism. Then socialism would follow, to finally reach communism.
Why is historical materialism important?
Historical materialism provides a theoretical framework to understand how material conditions and production relations influence the evolution of society. This theory has been used by different authors throughout history, even some who do not consider themselves Marxists.
