Historical Materialism as a Philosophy of Social Change: A Critical Reinterpretation

Abstract

Historical materialism remains a central framework for analysing social change, yet it is frequently misrepresented as economic determinism or a rigid doctrine of inevitability. This article re-examines historical materialism as a flexible philosophy for understanding societal evolution. It contends that historical materialism does not assert that economic factors exclusively determine all aspects of social life. Instead, it provides a methodological approach to examining how individuals shape and maintain their material conditions, which in turn influence social relationships and conflicts. Political, cultural, ideological, and institutional factors also play significant roles in either maintaining or transforming society. The article first investigates the philosophical foundations of historical materialism, focusing on Marx’s critique of idealism, his perspectives on production, and his theory of social relations. It then analyses the relationship between productive forces and relations of production, highlighting that Marx’s framework is more nuanced than a linear technological progression or a simplistic base-superstructure model. The discussion further addresses class struggle as a historical process, drawing on the works of Gramsci, Lukács, E. P. Thompson, and Ellen Meiksins Wood to illustrate that social change encompasses not only economic structures but also consciousness, culture, political institutions, and collective action. Finally, the article applies historical materialism to contemporary issues, including capitalism, globalization, technological development, ecological crisis, gendered labour, and transformations in social organization. The central argument is that historical materialism remains relevant when conceptualized as a theory of human agency operating within inherited structures. Individuals make history, but always within material conditions that both constrain and enable their actions. Thus, historical materialism continues to provide a robust framework for the analysis of social change.