Re: Why the proletariat?

[Adam Rose <adam@xxxxxxxx>]

>
>       One question which should be of central importance to those
> who (for whatever reason) seek or support "social change", "revolution"
> or whatever is -
>
>       Why should or will the proletariat play the role that Marxists
> have claimed?
>
>       If it is because of oppression, then why not look to the lumpenprols
> who are also oppressed? If it is because of socialist philosophy, then surely
> this is the realm of the petty bourgeois.
>       
>  I don't believe that this list has considered this question - yet.
>
>               thanx-
>                       tlmkr <:-*)=<><
>

Because workers produce all the wealth under capitalism, they have the power
to overthrow it.

Also, capitalism thrusts ever increasing numbers of workers together,
collectivising them whether they like it or not. So Capitalism creates
the potential for collective struggle which is neccessary to defeat
Capitalism at the workplace.

This is nothing to do with who is the most oppressed, it's to do
with which class has collective economic power.

Sometimes when particular groups of workers are oppressed, like
in Nothern Ireland, it is only at the workplace workers from
both sides of the divide can come together and discover their
common interest and combined power.

Marx was able to discern these trends in his time. Now, however, it is
clearer than ever. There are more workers in South Korea today than there
were in the whole world in Marx's time.

Adam.


Adam Rose
SWP
Manchester
UK
































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