British Capitalism, ‘Exceptionalism’ and Marxist Theory

Abstract

In this and similar observations on the political consequences of periodic economic crises in the mid-1850s, Marx clearly believed that the dislocations brought about by capitalist overproduction would have the effect of finally removing the archaic political alliances which were incapable of giving adequate expression to the major social forces of the capitalist mode of production — the industrial bourgeoisie and the working class. In other words, Marx considered that political relations would now more closely approximate the real material relations of society between the expropriators and producers of surplus value.

A few months more and the crisis will be at a height which it has not reached in England since 1846, perhaps not since 1842. When its effects begin to be fully felt among the working classes, then will that political movement begin again, which has been dormant for six years. Then will the working men of England rise anew, menacing the middle classes at the very time that the middle classes are finally driving the aristocracy from power. Then will the mask be torn off which has hitherto hid the real political features of Great Britain. Then will the two real contending parties in that country stand face to face-the middle class and the working classes, the Bourgeoisie and the Proletariat and England will be compelled to share in the general social evolutions of European society.¹