One of the early visionaries who merged social, economic, and political concerns in examining globalization was Karl Marx. He articulated that the dialectical nature of economic changes had given rise to socio-political forces, creating new socio-economic middle class facilitating new production and; hence, creating new changes that would have global impact. Therefore, it is important to unfold Marx's perspective in understanding the roots of globalization and how global economic activities can lead to social and political changes whose inertia, direction, and force cannot be controlled, although attempts will be made, by governments.
Karl Marx explained how social structure has been and continues to be impacted by economic changes which in turn may create new political realities. Marx put forth few simple ideas:
Marx provided a context for new globalization. He, essentially, provided a clear road map as to how and why globalization takes place. Therefore, it is important to delineate what impact, if any, Marx had on the way we should view ourselves as globalists, above and beyond national borders, as a member of human race.
Karl Marx explained how social structure has been and continues to be impacted by economic changes which in turn may create new political realities. Marx put forth few simple ideas:
1. As new technologies are invented and trade between countries are expanded, new socio-economic class of citizens in each country is created that he called bourgeoisie that we know as middle class. Middle class worked as managers, supervisors, and essentially facilitators of production and movements of goods and services
2. New technologies, such as transportation and production, will help owners of capital to explore different countries for cheaper labor and raw material to help them improve their profit and expand their capital base.
3. The middle class will gradually become mere wage earners at the mercy of capital owners who control all the resources and become victims of the collective labor power in bargaining for taking away the profits from capital owners through asking for higher wages and more benefits.
4. Eventually, middle class facilitative role will be replaced by mechanized new technologies and its economic importance will degraded due to social structural changes and mass production and distribution.
5. At the end, the capital owners and laborers will emerge as two remaining socio-economic classes where each class will be determined to fight for the control of political power on global basis.
