Prelims · 6 Indian Society · 6.2 Western thinkers

6.2.3 Karl Marx: historical materialism, class struggle and alienation

Marx explained society through its economic base: the way people produce shapes their classes, ideas and institutions, and history moves through the struggle between classes.

  • APPSC Group 2 · Prelims
  • Standard level
  • 8 min read
  • Full course

Key terms

  • Marx
  • Engels
  • historical materialism
  • base and superstructure
  • forces of production
  • relations of production
  • modes of production
  • class struggle
  • class in itself
  • class for itself
  • alienation
  • surplus value
  • opium of the people
  • labour codes

What this note covers

  1. Core factsFoundation
  2. ExplainedStandard
  3. DeeperAdvanced
  4. Mains writingMains writing
  5. Common trapsFoundation
  6. Quick revisionFoundation

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