CASIANA SANKAR
Evaluate the relevance of the Marxist model of class structure and class conflict to an analysis of Caribbean society. (May/June 2000)
Karl Marx was inspired to create an explanation of a society that had become industrialized and capitalist in the eighteenth century. He understood that the illusion of modernity reflected a continuation of class exploitation that had occurred in previous eras like slavery and feudalism. Hence, he constructed his own model, the Marxist model of class conflict to explain negative circumstances that existed in his time. The main features of Marxism include class conflict, surplus value extraction, false consciousness, revolution and by extension communism. The features of the Marxist model are all applicable to Caribbean society, however due to significant changes in society, they are not relevant to the extent that Karl Marx witnessed.
The communist manifesto of 1848 declared that the history of all existing society hitherto is the history of class conflict i.e. oppressor and oppressed. According to Marx, this was reflected by the Bourgeosie as the oppressor and the Proletariat as the oppressed, this statement can be applied to society during the period of Colonization which implanted a Plantation Society which exploited the Indigenous people, West Africans, Indians, Chinese and Madeirans. The methods of class exploitation were visible through the Encomienda, Enslavement and Indentureship.
In a Post-Colonial society, class conflict still exists however, it is not to the extent that Marx argued occurred in his time. There are class conflict issues that arise in the Caribbean due to lack of protection for labour and worker rights but many critics of Marxism disagree with Marx. They argue that the Marxist model cannot be applied to Caribbean society as now there has been an expansion in the social pyramid, which