The Proletariat

The proletariat refers to the working class in a capitalist society—people who do not own significant resources or means of production and instead sell their labor to earn wages. They produce goods and services but typically do not control the tools, factories, or capital involved. Historically, thinkers like Karl Marx viewed the proletariat as essential for economic production but often exploited by the owners of capital (the bourgeoisie). Understanding the proletariat helps to analyze social class dynamics, economic power, and issues related to labor rights and inequality within society.