Historical Materialism
A methodological approach to the study of human societies and their development over time.
Historical materialism is a theory of history that looks for the causes of developments and changes in human society in the means by which humans collectively produce the necessities of life. It is a methodological approach to the study of human societies and their development over time, and was first articulated by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels.
It is a theory of history that sees the material conditions of a society as the primary driver of change.
- Type: Historical Framework
- Core Idea: Material Conditions Shape Society
- Key Elements: Means of Production, Relations of Production, Superstructure
Key Concepts
The building blocks of historical materialism.
Means of Production
The means of production are the tools, factories, land, and investment capital used to produce wealth.
Relations of Production
The relations of production are the social relationships people enter into as they acquire and use the means of production. In capitalist society, the main relations of production involve the bourgeoisie (the owners of the means of production) and the proletariat (the workers).
Superstructure
The superstructure of a society includes its culture, institutions, political power structures, roles, rituals, and state. The base (the means and relations of production) determines the superstructure.
Implementation & Strategy
Costs, timelines, and strategic considerations for adopting Historical Materialism.
Estimated Project Costs
Historical materialism is a theory of history, so it doesn't have a direct cost. However, there are costs associated with the time and resources that you dedicate to the process of studying and applying the theory. These costs can range from a few dollars for a book to several thousand dollars for a university course.
Implementation Strategy
A typical historical materialism analysis starts with an examination of the means of production in a society. From there, you can analyze the relations of production and the superstructure. The final step is to use this analysis to understand the historical development of the society.
Comparisons
How Historical Materialism stacks up against other historical theories.