The destructive impact of the capitalist economy on the public, especially in developing countries, is accompanied by painful social transformations. As capitalism’s nature is centered on profit, it deepens class divisions in developing countries and leads to inequalities in income distribution, as well as social and communal erosion. While economic growth produces positive effects for a limited segment, this situation exacerbates social injustice by preventing the fair distribution of wealth. For the masses, entrenched poverty, nourished by the capitalist economic structure, and the abandonment of scientific realities accelerate the process of social collapse and lead to deep societal fragmentation.
The most visible effect of capitalist systems in developing countries is undoubtedly the deepening of income inequality. Global capitalism, driven by the concentration of wealth and capital in major cities and certain sectors, exacerbates regional disparities. Remote or disadvantaged areas are increasingly marginalized, socially and economically. Another outcome is the erosion of social security and the widespread reduction or elimination of public services. The privatization of services and public goods such as healthcare, education, and housing makes access to basic human rights more difficult, especially for low-income communities. The capitalist system, which reinforces low-wage labor in developing countries, burdens workers with exhausting conditions and unfair wages, particularly in regions where production costs are cheap. Moreover, the adverse effects of this system are felt in the destruction of the environment. Rapid industrialization and uncontrolled exploitation of natural resources have deepened the structural inequalities in developing countries.
The Struggle to Escape Capitalist Exploitation in Developing Countries
In developing countries, the struggle against capitalist exploitation is often led by labor movements and other grassroots organizations. Resistance to capitalist exploitation and direct efforts to combat it remain largely limited. Labor unions and various social movements provide significant resistance against the capitalist system, which is built on economic and social inequalities. Labor unions, farmers’ cooperatives, local community movements, and environmental movements generally emerge as forces resisting the injustices created by capitalist exploitation. Examples from Latin America, such as the successful movements in Bolivia and Venezuela against neoliberal economic policies, demonstrate the potential for resistance (Harvey, 2005).
The working class is the group most affected by capitalist exploitation. For this reason, protecting workers’ rights and stopping economic exploitation is a crucial aim of unions and labor movements. Organizing labor around issues such as wages, working conditions, and job security is vital in the struggle against the injustices perpetuated by the capitalist system. Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and civil society organizations in developing countries play an important role in reducing economic inequalities. These organizations work to protect workers’ rights, prevent environmental degradation, and combat poverty, both locally and globally.
On the Role of Intellectuals: ‘Aydın’s Responsibilities’
From a Marxist perspective, the role of intellectuals (aydın) becomes critical in the fight for social justice. Marxism sees intellectuals not merely as observers but as active participants in the struggle against capitalist exploitation. Aydınlar (intellectuals) are expected to align themselves with the working class and challenge existing power structures. However, in today’s world, the role of intellectuals is more complex and ambiguous. The transformation of knowledge production under capitalism has made the traditional role of the intellectual less clear, yet the expectation for intellectuals to contribute to societal change remains strong.
Marxist Perspective on the Responsibilities of Intellectuals
Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels argue that dominant ideas in society are the ideas of the ruling class; these ideas are adopted and maintained through the mediation of intellectuals (Marx & Engels, 1998). In this context, intellectuals play a critical role in either maintaining the dominant class ideology or in developing alternative ideologies that challenge the ruling class. The responsibility of intellectuals, then, should not be to support bourgeois ideology but rather to promote ideas that serve the working class and contribute to revolutionary transformation.
Antonio Gramsci’s concept of the “organic intellectual“ offers an important perspective on the role of intellectuals in Marxist thought. According to Gramsci, organic intellectuals are those who actively contribute to the working-class struggle, provide class consciousness, and defend the interests of the proletariat (Gramsci, 1971). From this perspective, intellectuals should not limit themselves to abstract theoretical production but should engage directly in organizing and leading the working class in their struggle against capitalism.
Marx’s famous statement in the “Theses on Feuerbach“ offers a crucial point regarding the historical role of intellectuals: “Philosophers have only interpreted the world, in various ways; the point, however, is to change it“ (Marx, 1845). Marxist intellectuals are not merely tasked with analyzing society but with actively working to dismantle capitalism and build a socialist society. Intellectuals, therefore, are not just passive interpreters of social realities; they are revolutionaries who carry the weight of class struggle. Similarly, Lenin emphasizes in “What Is to Be Done?“ that intellectuals should not only provide theoretical leadership but also organize the working class and guide them toward revolutionary change.
Lenin emphasizes that intellectuals should not be confined to mere theoretical or academic work, but must actively engage in the practical aspects of revolutionary struggle (Lenin, 1902). According to Lenin, intellectuals are not only tasked with producing ideas; they must also take part in organizing and leading practical revolutionary activities. He argues that intellectuals should play a key role in guiding the working class toward revolutionary change.
Gramsci, in turn, explains that intellectuals maintain social hegemony by promoting the dominant class’s ideas through cultural hegemony. The ruling class creates cultural leadership and consensus through the work of intellectuals who represent the general interests of society but do so in the interests of the ruling elite. For Gramsci, Marxist intellectuals should challenge this hegemony and assist the working class in building their own cultural hegemony (Gramsci, 1971).
The most visible effect of capitalist systems in developing countries is undoubtedly the deepening of income inequality. Global capitalism, driven by the concentration of wealth and capital in major cities and certain sectors, exacerbates regional disparities. Remote or disadvantaged areas are increasingly marginalized, socially and economically. Another outcome is the erosion of social security and the widespread reduction or elimination of public services. The privatization of services and public goods such as healthcare, education, and housing makes access to basic human rights more difficult, especially for low-income communities. The capitalist system, which reinforces low-wage labor in developing countries, burdens workers with exhausting conditions and unfair wages, particularly in regions where production costs are cheap. Moreover, the adverse effects of this system are felt in the destruction of the environment. Rapid industrialization and uncontrolled exploitation of natural resources have deepened the structural inequalities in developing countries.
The Struggle to Escape Capitalist Exploitation in Developing Countries
In developing countries, the struggle against capitalist exploitation is often led by labor movements and other grassroots organizations. Resistance to capitalist exploitation and direct efforts to combat it remain largely limited. Labor unions and various social movements provide significant resistance against the capitalist system, which is built on economic and social inequalities. Labor unions, farmers’ cooperatives, local community movements, and environmental movements generally emerge as forces resisting the injustices created by capitalist exploitation. Examples from Latin America, such as the successful movements in Bolivia and Venezuela against neoliberal economic policies, demonstrate the potential for resistance (Harvey, 2005).
The working class is the group most affected by capitalist exploitation. For this reason, protecting workers’ rights and stopping economic exploitation is a crucial aim of unions and labor movements. Organizing labor around issues such as wages, working conditions, and job security is vital in the struggle against the injustices perpetuated by the capitalist system. Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and civil society organizations in developing countries play an important role in reducing economic inequalities. These organizations work to protect workers’ rights, prevent environmental degradation, and combat poverty, both locally and globally.
On the Role of Intellectuals: ‘Aydın’s Responsibilities’
From a Marxist perspective, the role of intellectuals (aydın) becomes critical in the fight for social justice. Marxism sees intellectuals not merely as observers but as active participants in the struggle against capitalist exploitation. Aydınlar (intellectuals) are expected to align themselves with the working class and challenge existing power structures. However, in today’s world, the role of intellectuals is more complex and ambiguous. The transformation of knowledge production under capitalism has made the traditional role of the intellectual less clear, yet the expectation for intellectuals to contribute to societal change remains strong.
Marxist Perspective on the Responsibilities of Intellectuals
Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels argue that dominant ideas in society are the ideas of the ruling class; these ideas are adopted and maintained through the mediation of intellectuals (Marx & Engels, 1998). In this context, intellectuals play a critical role in either maintaining the dominant class ideology or in developing alternative ideologies that challenge the ruling class. The responsibility of intellectuals, then, should not be to support bourgeois ideology but rather to promote ideas that serve the working class and contribute to revolutionary transformation.
Antonio Gramsci’s concept of the “organic intellectual“ offers an important perspective on the role of intellectuals in Marxist thought. According to Gramsci, organic intellectuals are those who actively contribute to the working-class struggle, provide class consciousness, and defend the interests of the proletariat (Gramsci, 1971). From this perspective, intellectuals should not limit themselves to abstract theoretical production but should engage directly in organizing and leading the working class in their struggle against capitalism.
Marx’s famous statement in the “Theses on Feuerbach“ offers a crucial point regarding the historical role of intellectuals: “Philosophers have only interpreted the world, in various ways; the point, however, is to change it“ (Marx, 1845). Marxist intellectuals are not merely tasked with analyzing society but with actively working to dismantle capitalism and build a socialist society. Intellectuals, therefore, are not just passive interpreters of social realities; they are revolutionaries who carry the weight of class struggle. Similarly, Lenin emphasizes in “What Is to Be Done?“ that intellectuals should not only provide theoretical leadership but also organize the working class and guide them toward revolutionary change.
Lenin emphasizes that intellectuals should not be confined to mere theoretical or academic work, but must actively engage in the practical aspects of revolutionary struggle (Lenin, 1902). According to Lenin, intellectuals are not only tasked with producing ideas; they must also take part in organizing and leading practical revolutionary activities. He argues that intellectuals should play a key role in guiding the working class toward revolutionary change.
Gramsci, in turn, explains that intellectuals maintain social hegemony by promoting the dominant class’s ideas through cultural hegemony. The ruling class creates cultural leadership and consensus through the work of intellectuals who represent the general interests of society but do so in the interests of the ruling elite. For Gramsci, Marxist intellectuals should challenge this hegemony and assist the working class in building their own cultural hegemony (Gramsci, 1971).