Marxist and neo-Marxist thoughts: role of critical theory

As a critique of capitalist state there are many theories. Two major theories are: Marxist theory and the critical theory. Marxism said that in the interest of the workers it is necessary to destroy capitalism and replace it by dictatorship of proletariat. This in turn will move society to a stage of communism. In communist society all will be equal once again. Metaphorically, in communist society people are as equal as people were in the ancient society. Like ancient society the communist society is also a kind of undifferentiated society but at a higher level of material development and knowledge. Everyone will work as per the needs of society, and society will take care of needs of all. In the twentieth century several countries experienced socialist revolution. However, Marx’s predictions did not come true. First of all, socialism did not end inequalities, and only their nature was changed. Class inequalities were supplanted by political inequalities. Secondly, in the industrially advanced countries the working class did not develop revolutionary consciousness; thus capitalism survived in various new avatars. This paved the way for critical theory, i.e., neo-Marxist or critical thinking on development and the relationship between infrastructure and superstructure, specifically on the role of intellectuals. The neo-Marxist theorists combined Marxism with psychology and culture, and explored the developments in the industrially advanced countries.