Base and Superstructure Relationship

One of the fundamental theories proposed by Marx and the theorists that expounded upon his contributions is the relationship between base and superstructure. Let’s start by defining each, complete with links to everyone’s favorite source for further reading (as this is open source, it is commonly cloaked in liberalism, but fairly good overall. Make sure to supplement with primary resources i.e. theory):

Base: refers to the mode of production which includes the forces and relations of production (e.g. employer–employee work conditions, the technical division of labour, and property relations) into which people enter to produce the necessities and amenities of life

Superstructure: refers to society’s other relationships and ideas not directly relating to production including its culture, institutions, political power structures, roles, rituals, religion, media, and state.

Marx and others theorized that the base and superstructure relationship is not unidirectional or fixed, but circular and interconnected. However, the foundational dialectical lens with which Marxists view reality superimposes the base as a dominant force in this relationship.

Put simply, the economic base, means and relationship to production shape the people and things in society, tinting the superstructure and limiting its ability to think outside capitalist's parameters.

The superstructure grows out of the base and reflects the ruling class’ interests. As such, the superstructure justifies how the base operates and defends the power of the elite.

To give a more direct example, let’s look at religion: Marx theorized that norms, values, beliefs and ideology work to legitimize the base (means of production and relationship to production). They create the conditions in which the relations of production seem fair and natural and even give the proletariat a feeling as if they themselves conceived the idea in some small way, that collectively this was arrived at as the best way to organize society. This serves to more deeply entrench an ideology and system that only benefits the ruling class: the bourgeoise.

Religion and its ideology urge people to obey authority and work hard for salvation/an afterlife…this is but one way the superstructure justifies the base. Religion often consoles its followers with promises of prosperity after death, generating an acceptance of one’s conditions as they are instead of what they could be.

The late Mark Fischer coined the term capitalism realism, which is an excellent term and book summarized as: “it is easier to imagine the end of the world than to imagine the end of capitalism”. The book discusses how we have all been sold a lie that capitalism is the only viable economic and social system.

This plays back directly into Marx’s idea of base and superstructure. Cultural products, such as movies, TV, books, media and music all either tacitly accept our reality or do nothing to change the discourse. Although media certainly does exist that threatens power and plants the seeds for socialist society in the minds of the working class, other elements of the superstructure such as academic institutions, religious institutions and the corporate media apparatus work in opposition to this transformation of the hearts and minds of the proletariat.

It’s critical to observe our system of capitalism as a finite part of human evolution and history, and refuse to bend the knee to cynical notions of incrementalism or stagnation. Ultimately this system of private accumulation has only been around a few thousand years and proven to be wholly inadequate in taking care of people or the environment, which is on the brink of a collapse caused by rampant exploitation of the earth in the hands of a few thousand individuals.

Revolutionary optimism, combined with a keen eye for how this base and superstructure interplay molds and shapes our political and individual mentality and landscape, is crucial to discovering the means to change things fundamentally and organize against sections of the superstructure that oppose working class prosperity.

I hope this was an interesting and insightful primer on this important concept. Follow for more regular content this year!