Marx's Contribution to the Critique of Political Economy

Historical Materialism in Marx's Critique

The work Contribution to the Critique of Political Economy is where historical materialism was first formulated. For Marx, historical materialism is a scientific theory of history. Through sociology, economics, and the dialectical method—and utilizing a vast amount of data collected at the National Library in London—this theory seeks to establish the laws governing historical change. Marx argues that the engine of historical change is the infrastructure: the mismatch between productive forces and production relations that triggers a shift from one mode of production to another.

Ideology and the Superstructure

Within each mode of production, a particular superstructure or ideology emerges, functioning to maintain the ruling class in power. Marx identifies bourgeois economics as an ideological element designed to justify an unjust social order. Founded by Adam Smith, this economic theory posits that the source of capitalist wealth is the employer's selfish instinct, suggesting that state intervention to redistribute wealth hinders economic development. Marx refutes this, arguing that capitalist economic theory is not a science but a distorted vision of reality intended to perpetuate the dominance of the ruling classes.

The Three Social Classes of Bourgeois Society

Marx identifies three primary social classes within bourgeois society:

1. Capital

• Merchandise: An item possesses use value when exchanged for another use value during a commercial transaction.
• Money: A commodity that possesses use value only through its exchange value; it is generally accepted to streamline trade.
• Capital: Money functions as capital when exchanged to increase the owner's total exchange value.

2. Property of Soil

The soil is owned by the landlord class, which remains at a disadvantage compared to the bourgeoisie due to the inherently urban and industrial nature of capitalism.

3. Salaried Labor

The proletariat consists of those who sell their labor power in return for wages. Wage labor is characterized by alienation, as the worker is deprived of the object they produce and is bought and sold like any other commodity. Capitalism is structurally defined as a mode of production where a class must sell its labor to survive, lacking ownership of the means of production.

Publication and Development

Marx notes that this specific work focuses primarily on the chapters regarding Goods and Money. While he developed the remaining topics over long periods, their publication was often hindered by external circumstances, including persecution, arrests, and financial difficulties.