Is the working class struggling for rights or revolution?

Under the capitalist system there is inequality of rights as well as alienation. This be so, the Marxian perspective seeks the end of both. But it is also true that neither is possible under the capitalist system. As a result, revolutionary overthrow of the capitalist system is the slogan that comes into play. Till that happens, we may ask a question—under the capitalist system, is the working class struggling for rights or revolution? Two possible answers within the Marxian framework may be possible.

Firstly, if the orthodox Marxian position in terms of primacy of superstructure is considered, under the rubric of bourgeois rights there is no place for rights that are required by the working class. Any rights of the social, civil and political or even economic nature, such as right to freedom of speech (slogan, dissemination of radical ideas, etc.), association (formation of trade and labour unions), contract (get employed), vote and such rights are concessions in overall interests of the capitalist system. These rights are neither unqualified nor absolute. They are regulated and at times in fact harm the very basis of revolution—emergence of revolutionary consciousness. Lenin in his What is to be Done? has pointed out that piecemeal demands of the working class for concessions in terms of working hours, wages concessions, etc., has resulted in what he described as economism—one piecemeal demand after another for economic concessions. This apparently has no bearing with revolutionary consciousness that could result in the overthrow of the capitalist system. According to this interpretation, if the working class is struggling for revolution, demands for economic concessions and rights are compromised.

Secondly, taking a relative autonomous perspective that we discussed in the chapter on state, it can be argued that the working class can secure certain rights that may help in organizing and effecting changes in the economic relations. It has been argued that the right to vote may help in political organization of the working class. In fact, in many countries including India, combined with rights to association and trade unionism, the right to vote provides the basis for organization of the left parties. It is also true that many economic rights are recognized as part of civil and political rights.