this post was submitted on 26 May 2025
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I think you're a bit confused. Marx in no way stated that Capitalism was Feudalism, in fact much of Capital is focused on the specific characteristics of Capitalism, and how it emerged. Both Feudalism and Capitalism are class societies, but these aren't the same in any stretch. Moreover, the Bourgeoisie largely emerged from merchants who through primative accumulation managed to gather the seed Capital to build up industry and bring about Capitalism, and thus overthrow the aristocracy and Feudal lords. The Bourgeoisie overthrew the aristocracy, some aristocrats fell into the Bourgeoisie, but the Bourgeoisie emerged and overtook them as a class.
You are correct that both Capitalism and Feudalism are class societies, but you're entirely off the mark on the Marxist interpretation of them. I think reading Capital would be good for your understanding if you want to be a Marxist about it.
This is a bit pedantic, but Marxism has never been about equal wealth. Marx actually rails against "equalitarians" in Critique of the Gotha Programme:
Unequal needs with equal pay results in unequal outcomes, hence "from each according to their ability, to each according to their needs."
All in all, the problem with classifying social programs as "Socialist" or "Capitalist" doesn't really mean anything, because what matters is the overall context of the system. This is the purpose of Marx's Dialectical Materialism, rather than judging discrete elements, it must be judged in context. Social programs like healthcare in the Nordic countries are not "Socialist," they are funded through Imperialism and exist to limit revolutionary pressure, as these safety nets came about via proximity to the USSR which provided similar or greater safety nets. I'm being pedantic, admittedly, but because I am trying to espouse the importance of taking a consistent stance among Socialists, chiefly Marxists as I myself am a Marxist-Leninist.