Introduction

Relevance of the Theme

The Second Industrial Revolution and the Social Doctrines of the 19th century constitute a critical milestone in contemporary history, defining the modern world and shaping the social, political, and economic structures that still persist today. This era of industrialization brought about a paradigm shift and immense transformation in society.

Contextualization

Located at the peak of the industrial capitalist era, the Second Industrial Revolution completely transformed the world. The discipline of history provides a panoramic view of these changes, covering from technological innovations and changes in economic structure to social consequences and power struggles that emerged.

Among the doctrines that emerged during this period, the Scientific Socialism of Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, and the Anarchism of Mikhail Bakunin stand out. These ideologies emerged precisely as reactions and criticisms of the emerging capitalist system, forming a set of ideas that shaped the 20th century and are still present in our political and social thinking.

Understanding the Second Industrial Revolution and the Social Doctrines of this period will allow students a more complete perspective of our contemporary world and its origins.

Theoretical Development

Components

• Second Industrial Revolution

  • The Second Industrial Revolution, between 1870 and 1914, was a period of unprecedented technological advances, producing far-reaching changes in all spheres of human life.
  • The era witnessed the advent of new sources of energy (electricity, gas, oil), improvements in steel and chemical production, and the expansion of the transportation and communication system.
  • These changes revolutionized the textile, steel, coal, and iron industries, among others, leading to a massive increase in industrial production.

• Scientific Socialism

  • Formulated by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, Scientific Socialism, also known as Marxism, is a social doctrine that advocates for the abolition of private property and the appropriation of the means of production by the State.
  • Marx and Engels, in their famous manifesto, argued that capitalism was an inherently unstable system, characterized by a class struggle between the owning bourgeoisie and the working proletariat.
  • According to them, capitalism would inevitably lead to a proletarian revolution, culminating in the dictatorship of the proletariat and, finally, in the creation of an egalitarian communist society.

• Anarchism

  • Developed by philosophers like Mikhail Bakunin, anarchism rejects the idea of any form of government and hierarchy.
  • For anarchists, freedom can only be achieved through the end of the concept of the State.
  • Anarchism advocates for self-organization and voluntary cooperation among individuals, without the need for a State or central authority.

Key Terms:

• Industrialization: Process of transforming agrarian society into an industrial society, characterized by mass production, technological advances, and urbanization.
• Proletariat: In Marxist theory, it is the working class that does not own the means of production and is therefore dependent on wage labor.
• Bourgeoisie: In Marxist theory, it is the capitalist class that owns the means of production, including industry and capital.

Examples and Cases:

• Impacts of the Second Industrial Revolution: The rapid technological progress during the Second Industrial Revolution led to a series of social and economic changes. For example, the development of new forms of energy, such as electricity, enabled the expansion of industrial production and the acceleration of urban life.
• The Russian Revolution of 1917 and Marxism: The Russian revolution, which culminated in the formation of the Soviet Union, was heavily influenced by Marxist ideas. The revolution was led by the Bolsheviks, a socialist party that believed in the need for a proletarian revolution to overthrow the bourgeoisie and establish a communist society.
• The Spanish Revolution of 1936 and Anarchism: During the Spanish Revolution, anarchism had a considerable influence. In various parts of Spain, anarchists self-governed, collectivizing lands and industries and implementing a series of social reforms, with the aim of creating a stateless society.

Detailed Summary

Relevant Points:

• Impact of the Second Industrial Revolution: Marks a significant moment in world history, with technological advances that profoundly altered society. New forms of energy, improvements in production, and expansion of transportation and communication led to a drastic increase in industrial production.

• The Social Doctrines of the 19th Century: Two influential ideologies emerged as critiques of the emerging capitalist system. Scientific Socialism by Marx and Engels advocated for state appropriation of the means of production, while Anarchism by Bakunin rejected the idea of a central government and hierarchy.

• Central Concepts: Essential to understanding the social doctrines is mastering terms like Industrialization, Proletariat, and Bourgeoisie.

• Historical Examples: The Russian and Spanish Revolutions demonstrate the influence of these doctrines, with Marxism impacting the formation of the Soviet Union and Anarchism influencing social movements during the Spanish Revolution.

Conclusions:

• Revolutionizing the World: The Second Industrial Revolution completely reshaped the global socio-economic landscape, and the social doctrines that emerged from this period helped shape the political and social ideas of the 20th century and beyond.

• Alternative Views: The social doctrines provide alternative perspectives to the emerging capitalism, promoting social equality through different means.

• Enduring Legacy: The concepts and principles of these doctrines remain alive in contemporary society, constituting important reference points in the discussion and analysis of political, social, and economic issues.

Exercises:

1. Describe and compare the central ideas of Scientific Socialism and Anarchism. Analyze how each doctrine proposed social transformation, the roles of the State and private property, and each one's view on class struggle.

2. Analyze the influence of Scientific Socialism and Anarchism in two historical events. Choose an event where Marxism played an influential role (e.g., the Russian Revolution) and one where Anarchism had a significant impact (e.g., the Spanish Revolution). Discuss how the ideas of each doctrine were applied and what the results were.

3. How did the Second Industrial Revolution contribute to the emergence of Scientific Socialism and Anarchism? Discuss the social and economic changes resulting from industrialization and how they fueled the criticism and rejection of the capitalist system by these doctrines.