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Productive forces: Difference between revisions

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'''Productive forces''', '''productive powers''', or '''forces of production''' (German: ''Produktivkräfte'') is a central idea in [[Marxism]] and [[historical materialism]].  
'''Productive forces''', '''productive powers''', or '''forces of production''' (German: ''Produktivkräfte'') refers to the combination of the [[Means of production|means of labor]] (tools, machinery, land, infrastructure, etc.) and [[Labor-power|labor-power,]] In Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels' own critique of political economy.  


In [[Marx|Karl Marx]] and [[Engels|Friedrich Engels]]' own critique of political economy, it refers to the combination of the [[Means of production|means of labor]] (tools, machinery, land, infrastructure, and so on) with human [[labour power]].
Together with the social and technical [[relations of production]], they constitute the [[mode of production]].  
 
Together with the social and technical [[relations of production]], the productive forces constitute a historically specific [[mode of production]].


The productive forces are the unity of means of production and labour:
The productive forces are the unity of means of production and labour:
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== Modern uses ==
== Modern uses ==
While the definition of productive forces hasn't changed, it's become a popular term in recent decades as the [[People's Republic of China]] (PRC) has been emphasizing increasing their economy's productive forces in order to advance to higher stages of socialism, and eventually to the lofty ideal of [[communism]], where there is [[Post-scarcity|immense material abundance]].
While the definition of productive forces hasn't changed, it's become a popular term in recent decades as the [[People's Republic of China]] (PRC) has been emphasizing increasing their economy's productive forces in order to advance to higher stages of [[socialism]] and eventually [[communism]].


=== Deng Xiaoping ===
=== Deng Xiaoping ===
[[Deng Xiaoping]], the former leader of the PRC, wrote about the productive forces, writing about how the implementation of a Socialist Market Economy would help China to liberate and develop its productive forces.<ref>[https://dengxiaopingworks.wordpress.com/2013/03/18/there-is-no-fundamental-contradiction-between-socialism-and-a-market-economy/ There Is No Fundamental Contradiction Between Socialism and a Market Economy]</ref>
[[Deng Xiaoping]], former head of state in the PRC, wrote about how the implementation of a Socialist Market Economy would help China to liberate and develop its productive forces.<ref>[https://dengxiaopingworks.wordpress.com/2013/03/18/there-is-no-fundamental-contradiction-between-socialism-and-a-market-economy/ There Is No Fundamental Contradiction Between Socialism and a Market Economy]</ref>


== References ==
== References ==
[[Category:Marxist terminology]]
[[Category:Marxist terminology]]

Latest revision as of 19:45, 9 July 2025

Productive forces, productive powers, or forces of production (German: Produktivkräfte) refers to the combination of the means of labor (tools, machinery, land, infrastructure, etc.) and labor-power, In Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels' own critique of political economy.

Together with the social and technical relations of production, they constitute the mode of production.

The productive forces are the unity of means of production and labour:

  1. All labour (individual, union)
  2. Instruments of production (buildings, machines)
  3. Subjects of production (raw materials, labor)

Modern uses[edit | edit source]

While the definition of productive forces hasn't changed, it's become a popular term in recent decades as the People's Republic of China (PRC) has been emphasizing increasing their economy's productive forces in order to advance to higher stages of socialism and eventually communism.

Deng Xiaoping[edit | edit source]

Deng Xiaoping, former head of state in the PRC, wrote about how the implementation of a Socialist Market Economy would help China to liberate and develop its productive forces.[1]

References[edit | edit source]