Understanding the Proletariat: A Key Concept in Marxist Theory

The proletariat is a social class of people who do not own the means of production, such as factories, land, or other assets, and must sell their labor power to survive. This class is typically characterized by low wages, lack of job security, and limited social mobility. The term "proletariat" was coined by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels in their book "The Communist Manifesto" to describe the working class in capitalist societies.

In a capitalist economy, the proletariat is the majority of the population who are not part of the ruling class or the bourgeoisie, which owns the means of production and profits from the labor of the working class. The proletariat is often contrasted with the bourgeoisie, who control the means of production and hold power in society.

The concept of the proletariat is central to Marxist theory, which argues that the exploitation of the working class by the capitalist class is the driving force behind economic and social inequality. According to Marxist theory, the proletariat will eventually become aware of their common interests and rise up against the bourgeoisie to establish a more equal and just society.