Journal of Politics and International Studies, Vol 6, No 2 (2020)

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Classical Marxism to Postmodern Marxism: Theorization of Social Conflict and Ideology as a Determinant

Ghulam Ghous

Abstract


The present article examines different theories and schools of thought within Marxist paradigm and on the basis of these theories, gives its own angle to look at the nature of the social conflict. This study aims at developing a comprehensive view of the factors that determine the social conflict. This study employs an Eclectic Marxist approach to social conflict utilizing and reformulating Marxist theory. The present research concludes that there is a multiplicity of factors that makes a whole and this whole is conducive to a social conflict. Every element (religion, ideology, culture, economy, politics etc.) that makes this whole plays a significant role to create the social conflict. The contribution of these elements or components varies in different situations. Different parts play their roles at different times through the whole they form. This article also
traces the roots of social conflict on account of ideology. Drawing on different schools of Marxist thought it establishes the case of ideology as one of the potent source of social conflict. Economic determinism alone cannot ascertain the social conflict but ideology has also a part to play. Insistence on mere economic dialect and exclusion of consciousness and moral elements can limit
the scope of the theory of social conflict. The researcher draws support in favor of his argument from different Marxist theorists who are disenchanted with classical Marxism and criticize Marxist ideas of economic determinism and deterministic and reductionist interpretation of history. These different Marxist schools of thought vary while assigning primacy of place to humanism, economic
determinism, superstructure, infrastructure and subjectivity and objectivity in the Marxist theory of history and society. Thus this work includes the ignored ideological aspect of Marxist paradigm.


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