AN ASSESSMENT OF THE MARXIST DOCTRINE OF ALIENATION AND ITS RELEVANCE TO THE NIGERIAN SOCIETY

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ABSTRACT

One of the fundamental issues of most socio-political debate in recent years is “alienation” which means “

ABSTRACT

One of the fundamental issues of most socio-political debate in recent years is “alienation” which means “estrangement”. This essay will elucidate the doctrine of alienation in its origin until the era of Karl Marx. Much attention will be focused on the way Marx conceived alienation, its causes, types and effects. Attempt will be made to use this doctrine and explicate the circumstances of the majority of Nigerians, who are predominantly poor. The approach will be a theoretical exposition of Karl Marx theory of alienation using the critical and analytical method. An attempt will be made to juxtapose the argument for and against the Marxist doctrine of alienation, and its tallies with the Nigerian society, here it will be explained, whether the suffering and the inhuman conditions that most Nigerians pass through can be termed “alienation” following Marx theory. If this doctrine is applied to the Nigerian society, the question will then be; how does the Nigerian system alienates its citizens? The purpose of this essay, is to show whether there is any connections between the Marxist doctrine of alienations and the condition of the average Nigerian worker. Here, this work will examine the solution proffered by Karl Marx. This work will also show that though this alienation doctrine seems to elucidate the conditions of many Nigerians, the causes and solution proffered by Marx cannot be adapted to the Nigerian society. To put it precisely, the solution proffered by Karl Marx is not workable nor attainable in the Nigerian system. Finally, this work shall propose that alienation can only be mitigated within the context of solidarity.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

TITLE PAGE       –        –        –        –        –        –        –        i

CERTIFICATION         –        –        –        –        –        –        ii

DEDICATION     –        –        –        –        –        –        –        iii

ACKNOWLEDGEMNTS       –        –        –        –        –        v

ABSTRACT        –        –        –        –        –        –        –        vii

TABLE OF CONTENTS                  –        –        –        –        –        x

CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of the study   –        –        –        –        –        1

1.2 Statement of the problem  –        –        –        –        –        2

1.3 Objective of the study       –        –        –        –        –        3

1.4 Significance of the study   –        –        –        –        –        4

1.5 Justification of the society –        –        –        –        –        4

1.6 Method of the study          –        –        –        –        –        5

1.7 Scope of the study   –        –        –        –        –        –        6

1.8 Definition of terms   –        –        –        –        –        –        6

1.9 Literature Review    –        –        –        –        –        –        8

CHAPTER TWO: AN EXPOSITION ON KARL MARX’S SOCIOECONOMIC AND POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY         

2.1 Historical Background of Karl Marx    –        –        –        17

2.2 Karl Marx Theory of the State    –        –        –        –        21

2.3 Notion and Function of the State         –        –        –        –        25

2.4 Duties and Rights of Individuals –        –        –        –        26

2.5 Marx’s Capitalist and Labourers         –        –        –        –        31

CHAPTER THREE: RELEVANCE OF MARX THEORY OF ALIENATION TO THE NIGERIAN SITUATION

3.1 Karl Marx Doctrine of Alienation                  –        –        –        35

3.2 Education of the Labourers                  –        –        –        –        42

3.3 Oppression of the Labourers      –        –        –        –        46

3.4 Relation of the Labourers and the State         –        –        –        49

3.5 The Implication of Marx Theory of Alienation to the

Nigerian Situation          –        –        –        –        –        –        53

CHAPTER FOUR: SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION

4.1  Summary      –        –        –        –        –        –        –        63

4.2 Conclusion     –        –        –        –        –        –        –        65

WORKS CITED            –        –        –        –        –        –        70