M2A1: Marxism, Structuralism and Vulgar Materialism

M2A1: Project 1B
Student’s Name
Institutional Affiliation
M2A1: Project 1B
Like the bourgeoisie, the proletariats also developed and they are the ones who will destroy them. The working class only survive as long as there is work that they can do, and they can find a job if their labor increases the profits of the bourgeoisie. Therefore, the proletariats are like a commodity in the market which is vulnerable to market conditions. In the modern society, class struggle is still very much alive and it is the working class that is suffering. Both classes are fighting with each other for a larger share of the economy. The bourgeoisie being driven by profit maximization and competition are trying to increase their share by attacking the working class through direct attacks on wages and cutting welfare associations. On the other hand, the proletariats are working to defend and expand their share despite the constant attacks by the bourgeoisie. Trade unions/movements resulted out of this struggle to fight for living wages, and better working conditions and the business owners are fighting for less regulation and smaller pay increases. However, despite the continuous industry advancements which are supposed to raise the working class, they are sinking deeper and deeper.
According to Marx, "The modern laborer, on the contrary, instead of rising with the process of industry, sinks deeper and deeper below the conditions of existence of his own class," (Marx & Engels, 1967). The advancements in industry and technology have resulted in the automation of some jobs. Machines are replacing human workers in the industries in both mental and physical living huge numbers of laborers without work. Additionally, the advancements in technology have seen some workers being left out without work due to inadequate skills (Smith, 2010). Those who are found in the lower class are subjected to lower wages and poor working conditions.
Being driven by both internal and external competitions, businesses are reducing the salaries of workers to increase their profits. According to Marx, for the companies to increase their profits they must decrease their workers' wages. The wages will not increase without a decrease in profits and vice versa. The proletariats are sinking further because they do not have enough capital and their skills have been rendered no longer useful with the advancements in technology. The bourgeoisie has devised mechanisms of attacking the working class when t...