Luokkaristiriito

Luokkaristiriito, also known as class struggle, is a fundamental concept in Marxist theory, referring to the conflict between the working class and the ruling class within a society. The term is derived from the Finnish word "luokka," meaning class, and "ristiriito," meaning conflict. This concept is central to Karl Marx's critique of capitalism, where he argues that the economic system is inherently exploitative and leads to class conflict.

In a capitalist society, the working class, which owns the means of production, is exploited by the ruling class, which controls the means of production. This exploitation takes the form of wage labor, where workers sell their labor power to capitalists in exchange for wages. Marx argued that this system is inherently unstable because it creates a fundamental contradiction between the interests of the working class and the ruling class.

The class struggle is not merely an economic conflict but also a political and ideological one. The ruling class uses its economic power to maintain its political and ideological dominance, often through the state apparatus. The working class, on the other hand, seeks to overthrow the ruling class and establish a classless society where the means of production are owned and controlled by the community as a whole.

Marxist theory posits that the resolution of the class struggle will lead to the establishment of a communist society, where the means of production are collectively owned and controlled. This society would be characterized by the absence of class distinctions and the end of exploitation. However, the actual course of the class struggle and the nature of the communist society are subjects of ongoing debate among Marxist theorists.