Base and superstructure: Difference between revisions

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{{marxism}}

In [[Marxism|Marxist theory]], [[society]] consists of two parts: the '''base''' (or '''substructure''') and '''superstructure'''. The base refers to the [[mode of production]] which includes the [[Forces of production|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. The '''superstructure''' refers to society's other relationships and ideas not directly relating to [[production (economics)|production]] including its [[culture]], [[institution]]s, political [[power structure]]s, [[role]]s, [[ritual]]s, [[religion]], [[media (communication)|media]], and [[State (polity)|state]]. The relation of the two parts is not strictly unidirectional. The superstructure can affect the base. However, the influence of the base is predominant.<ref>[https://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1890/letters/90_09_21.htm Engels's letter to J. Bloch]; from London to

Königsberg, written on September 21, 1890. ''Historical Materialism'' (Marx, Engels, Lenin), p. 294 - 296. Published by Progress Publishers, 1972; first published by [[Der sozialistische Akademiker]], Berlin, October 1, 1895. Translated from German. Online version: marxists.org 1999. Transcription/Markup: Brian Baggins. Retrieved December 16, 2017.</ref>