A Socialist Alternative for the Future EUGENE E. RUYLE A major intellectual triumph of the nineteenth century was Marx's analysis of bourgeois society and how it contained the seeds of its own destruction, seeds which would mature and blossom into a more: humane, socialist order This future socialist order would emerge, be said, when the proletariat seized power and built upon the achieve- ments of the bourgeoisie — the development of society's productive forces to a high degree, political freedom, and democracy — to elimi- nate the wage slavery which Marx saw as the cause of the misery and dehumamzation of the working class Marx's view of the future was similar to that of the father of American anthropology, Lewis Henry: Morgan: The time which has passed away since civilization began is but a fragment of the past duration of man s existence and but a fragment of the ages yet to come The dissolution of society bids fair to become the termination of a career of which property is the end and ann because such a career contains the elements of self-destruction Democracy in government brotherhood in soci- ety equality in nghts and pnvileges and universal education foreshadow the next higher plane of society to which expenence intelligence and knowledge are steadily tending It will be a revival in a higher form of the liberty, equality and fraternity of the ancient gentes (Morgan 1964: 467). Although in many respects the twentieth century has been unkind o the revolutionary optimism of the nineteenth, the Marxist vision of a future socialist society continues to be a powerful force in the re- volutionary struggles of the Third World peoples who are major subjects of anthropological research In view of the current feeling that anthropologists should act in the interests of "their" people (as, some would argue, defined by the people themselves), it seems appropriate for anthropologists to draw upon their inventory of hundreds. existence and growth of any exploitive system. will see that their own liberty ultimately be threatened by the exploited, but by society as a whole. Those not being directly exploited prevented from doing so, not just by the resistance of those being all." Thus, even if some people may wish to exploit others, they will be tion. As the Wobblies used to say, "An injury one is an realize that it is in their interest not only to avoid being exploited themselves, but also to prevent the emergence of any kind exploita- social ills are generated by systems of exploitation, individuals will self-interest, not altruism. As humanity comes to understand how the primitive communism of past, will be based such a society to be utopian and contrary the nature of since we have all been brainwashed to a certain extent into believing characterize a socialist society, it may be well to clarify himself, his fellows, and with nature. societies can be resolved and man come to in harmony with socialist society that the social tensions within and between national free and full development of every individual. It is only within such his own social order under control and manage it so as to control of the forces nature, and man's final triumph will be to bring own social order, it towers over him like a mighty force of nature. But the history of humanity has been man's increasing and the social order he inhabits. As long as man does not control his than man's control of production, however, is himself aged in order to produce for use rather than profit. More important tion are socially owned, democratically controlled, and rationally industrial system in which strategic resources and the means of produc- Socialism may be described as a nonexploitative, post-capitalist world THE SOCIAL ORDER OF FUTURE the last. ment of the individual in socialist society future? eliminate exploitation and oppression guarantee the free develop- What sorts of institutions and cultural patterns will be needed made more imperative the implementation of Marxist program? centration camps of the twentieth century disproved Marx, and human history? Have the wars, revolutions, 1977); this essay is intended to stimulate thinking and discussion the Marxist synthesis: Is there a general direction to cultural evolution of years to explore anew the dialectical and revolutionary different cultural configurations and their time perspective of millions 614 EUGENE E. RIJYLE It is essential to realize that the socialist society of future, like Before examining the kinds of cultural phenomena which would I have discussed the first two of these questions elsewhere (Ruyle pogroms, and con- upon enlightened a few points, man. ensure the or merely aspects of man- on to a The basic precondition for the emergence of capitalism is a class "free laborers" (or wage slaves), people who are legally free but GUARANTEED EMPLOYMENT the result of class rule and not its cause. any apparent lack of revolutionary potential within the working class is history by the bourgeois-controlled education system and media. Thus, American working class, in particular, has been cut off from its own struggles of the working class are not generally publicized, so that because of ruthless oppression by the ruling class. Regrettably, past improve its conditions of existence. Such attempts have failed solely it has again and attempted to take control of its own destiny differential enculturation. must the working class. Any observed differences are result of ruling class has the innate ability to manage affairs of mankind, so Tobach, and Light 1968; Ashley Montagu 1975). Thus, if the geneticists — ideas are generally rejected by physical anthropologists and human (1971), and Shockley (1972) have argued to the contrary, but their that of the ruling class (neo-racists such as Jensen (1969), Herrnstein that the genetic material of working class is essentially same as the real conditions of its existence and to act accordingly. places its faith in the ability of working class to come grips with is good for them. Scientific socialism rejects this notion and instead cerned with the workings of society and are too stupid to realize what tell us that this is impossible, the masses are by nature uncon- interests within such a system. The teachings of class society, course, will be aware of the operation social system and their own minority exploiting another with the help of majority would support and assistance of the majority. The majority, however, would unequally distributed, this would not be a case of majority exploiting would be unlikely. If the spoils of such exploitation were to equally tomorrow be transformed into a minority exploiting the majority. gain nothing and in fact be threatened by this, since what is today a a minority, but rather of one minority exploiting another with the real point to the exploitation. If, on other hand, spoils were justify the effort of suppressing minority, and there would be no distributed among the majority, there would not be enough benefits to minorities by majorities. Closer examination, however, reveals that this A Socialist Alternative for the Future That such faith is not misplaced indicated, first of all, by the fact Further, the history of international working class indicates that The above analysis assumes enlightened self-interest, that all men It may be objected that nothing will prevent the exploitation of see Brace, Gamble, and Bond 1971; Mead, Dobzhansky, 615 psyche. gained from productive labor as exercise is necessary for the health of to do any productive work. All these aimlessness are common reported as taking pride in their (workers on assembly lines and vocation; (3) even alienated trying spare-time labor — society; (2) members of the bourgeoisie but in the minds of bourgeois True, this effort is directed toward maintaining our society, even though they are not economically the labor process itself: (1) bourgeois bourgeois society there, is evidence removed and man's "labor instinct" therefore disesteemed, but in socialist labor. In bourgeois society labor is imposing his will on the environment. the human man, but rather that it is often a source of satisfaction new dignity. in the working place and give a decent income for all. This will slaves from their economic bondage The first task of a socialist revolution labourers, essential to these, is wanting (1965: the capitalistic mode of production remains possessor of his Most individuals will find employment labourer can accumulate for himself the existence of a class labourers case in new American settlements, where more capital than he could use with his equal portions of capital. "If," says Wakefield, "all the members of ploitation. As Marx put it: competitive disadvantage of the ensures that there will always be lack access to the (economically) to sell their labor 616 EUGENE It is important to understand that to get the satisfaction here that they essence; man realizes his own species nature only E RLE gardening, means of production and are therefore among retired people who are no longer able means of production — . no wage labor can be a source of satisfaction to the working man a new security man would have a motive for accumulating home repair, hobbies, and are necessary for the health of even garbage workers are sometimes work); (4) feelings of uselessness and in order to exist. The capitalist prevent exploitation and oppression seller of labor permits capitalist — themselves, it is for the good of that man does find satisfaction a stigma of the lower classes, and work is not something imposed are impossible. The class of and to guarantee employment for hire." So long, therefore, considerations indicate that just own hands. This is to some extent the Man, therefore, fulfills himself in an.