Not Communism, but Populism: Historical Materialism – Its Supplement and Correction

Abstract

The author undertakes the task of modernizing historical materialism. In doing so, he corrects the Marxian historical forecast that capitalism would be followed by communism. According to the author, in the 19th century, science began to influence technological progress for the first time in history. The result is a technological revolution that transformed the production of material goods and, consequently, all of 96 Jędrzej Stanisławek social life. Technical progress has created a new, currently the most economically productive class: the class of experts (‘specialists’).