by Ronahn Clarke
Karl Marx predicted that capitalism, like the socioeconomic systems which preceded it, would produce internal tensions and ultimately self-destruct. In the one hundred and thirty six years since Marx’s death, Marxists of all descriptions have wrestled with the following question: Why hasn’t that happened? My project will provide exposition on Marx’s theory of historical materialism and I’ll put that theory into a real historical context. We’ll look at where the historical evidence validates Marx and where it suggests his theory’s shortcomings. I’ll provide examples of how capitalism assuaged class conflict as far back the eighteenth century – during Marx’s own lifetime. Marx suggested that communism was the final stage of human economic development because it would eliminate class conflict. At the end of my project, I’ll investigate as to whether capitalism has done something with a similar effect. I’ll also suggest that the Marxists who have come in Karl Marx’s wake have missed an opportunity to work their criticisms into Marx’s theory of historical materialism. While I won’t wrap my project up without recommending a particular course of action, for better or for worse, capitalism is the final stage of human economic development.
My project takes the form of an audio recording. You can listen to it using the player below. Alternatively, you can download the project as a .wav lossless audio file by clicking the button at the bottom of the page. You may need special software to play it. I recommend VLC. Should you wish to read this project instead, or read along, I have provided a transcript. The project was intended to be an audio file from the beginning. Therefore the writing and formatting style does not match that of a traditional research paper. But it may still be read as one.