On Marx’s theory of fettering of productive forces by social relations of production

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According to Marx, production relations promote the development of productive forces but they can also fetter that development. The concept of fettering is a relatively neglected component of Marx’s social theory. This concept can potentially help us adequately make sense of numerous global problems that exists because of the contradiction between forces and relations of production. However, making use of the concept requires its further development beyond Marx’s schematic remarks and some of its modern-day interpretations. The latter are characterized by a shopping basket approach that produces a confusing litany of fetterings without adequately unpacking the fettering mechanisms. There is therefore a need to better understand a) what might fettering precisely mean, and b) what is it about the relations of production and the forces of production which makes fettering of the latter by the former possible? A reformulation of the concept of fettering requires that the concept of productive forces must include nature and human beings, apart from the produced means of production. Nature needs constant improvement, but this does not happen because of capitalist relations. Human beings have certain needs which must be met for them to possess their productive abilities as direct producers, but capitalist relations fail to guarantee this. The paper shows how it is that in the selfsame processes in which capitalism develops productive forces, it also fetters such development. It also suggests that the conceptualization of fettering must go beyond an implicit nationalism: the mechanisms of fettering must be elaborated to include imperialist exploitation that fetters productive forces in the South. The balance between capitalism’s fettering and productive tendencies is in favour of the former today, so class struggle against capitalist social relations must replace antagonistic capitalist relations with socialist relations to ensure harmonious sustainable development, nationally and globally.