The State, Surplus Value, and Exploitation in Contemporary Capitalism

Abstract

As a system of economic management, capitalism promotes and encourages the ownership of the means of production by private individuals. One major feature of this system is the existence of two dominant classes: the owners of means of production (that is, the “haves” or “bourgeoisie”) and the non-owners (thst is; the “have – nots” or “proletariat”). This essay examines the phenomena of the state, surplus value and exploitation in a capitalist system and it is argued that there is a close relationship between them. It is stated that in a capitalist system, the state is regarded as an instrument used by the dominant class (the “haves”) for the exploitation and oppression of the weaker class (the “have – nots”). Furthermore, in this system, the exploitation of the workers takes place once the surplus value they produce is appropriated not by them but by the capital-owners. Keyword: Capitalism, surplus values, mode of production, exploitation, class struggle, the state.