I. Introduction: The present paper aims to present the conceptual understanding of Karl Marx’s concept of alienation and its relevance in the 21st century’s workplace of developed economies. To undertake this study successfully, the current literature makes an attempt to explore the notion of factors emphasizing alienation and their effect on people, the nature of job that leads to alienation and the prevalence of alienation in the jobs. Though the concept of alienation originated in Karl Marx’s philosophical writings during 1840s, it did not see the day of the light in 1950s until it was published in English language. The prolonged use of the concept of alienation by Karl Marx makes it evident that it constitutes to be the most significant pillar of the Marxian system (Edgell, 2006).
Subsequently, the application of the concept of alienation at a workplace of 21st century is evaluated while trying to make concrete conclusions with regards to the same. Such evaluation is made possible by a critical analysis of the four different aspects i.e. Product alienation, Activity alienation, Species alienation and Social alienation as described by Karl Marx which emphasize alienation and also their effects on the work of the people. Also, the implication of job security as an influencing factor on experiencing alienation by the worker is also further investigated in this essay. Finally, attempt has also been made to gain an understanding of the association of the concept of alienation with the nature of jobs.
Lastly, a conclusion has been drawn in relation to the practicality of the concept of alienation, based upon the analysis that has been done with regards to the concept and its influencing factors.
II. The origination and notion of alienation: Before being developed as a revolutionary concept by Marx, the concept of alienation was explored as a philosophical perception by Hegel and Feuerbach. A more prevalent and serious argument of the concept of alienation was subsequent to the Second World War (Bottomore, 2001). Karl Marx traces the source of alienation to the worker’s lack of control over his material product. Further, Marx believed that his proposed revolution in the control of material sources of power could eliminate alienation (Sontag, 2001). According to Marx, alienation is inevitable and universal in the capitalist societies but he was also of the thought that it could be conquered (Edgell, 2006). Therefore, per Marx, alienation could be defined as a loss of control especially over labor in the context of capitalist societies that had its roots deeply ingrained in the material world.
i. Factors emphasizing alienation and its effect on people: Marx believed in the existence of four varied expressions of alienation in the industrial capitalism. They are as follows (Edgell, 2006):
1. Product Alienation: It refers to the alienation of the worker from the product that has been created as a result of his employment.
2. Activities Alienation: The activity of work itself is alienating as it is involuntary in nature and does not contribute towards the development of a worker’s creative potential.
3. Species Alienation: As a consequence of the product and activities alienation, the worker ceases to exist as a human being as he is alienated from the essential requirements of being a human.
4. Social Alienation: due to the product, activities and species alienation, the workers subsequently get alienated from each other which results in social alienation.
In addition to the above, Seeman proposed five major variants of alienation which are powerlessness, meaninglessness, normlessness, isolation and self-estrangement (Kanungo, 1982). Therefore, alienation in its varied forms only and only deters the basic capacity of the workers as well as the employers. However, the rigorousness of alienation which the employers experience is much lesser when compared to the sternness of alienation that the workers go through. Marx regarded the elimination of the structure that creates alienation as a resolution to the problem (Edgell, 2006).
ii. The implication of job security on worker’s experience of alienation: Job security seems to save the workers from being excessively alienated from the work. As the sense of not losing the job gives the worker an emotional attachment towards the job which in turn reduces the species alienation as one of the aspects discussed by Marx. In most of the OECD countries, Australia being one of them, the concept of job security is fast gaining relevance in the present times. Job security had been defined in various terms by various thinkers. While some describe it a sense of security in terms of pride of working, some describe it a sense of security in terms of financial support. In addition, specific job tenure also leads to job security as such specified tenure of job is instrumental in ensuring the worker in terms of the social and financial security related to his job.
As per Kanungo (1982, p.19) “According to Marx individuals who are working under supervision in order to achieve financial security for themselves and their families are by definition alienated whether they realize it or not. They are alienated as their labor is not free and autonomous and hence does not result in establishing their individuality”.
According to Kanungo (1982, p.21) “As Blauner (1964) had observed industrialization and urbanization of modern society have destroyed the normative structure of a more traditional society and uprooted people from the local groups and institutions which had provided stability and security. Hence, no longer able to feel a sense of security and belonging, modern men and women find themselves to be isolated from others”.
Also, the external factors determine the job security levels prevailing in the country. Such factors relate to the labor market and industrial relations in the country. According to (Tonks & Nelson, 2008) “The normative HRM assumption that worker commitment is natural to the employment relationship can only hold so long as it operates in a context of relative consensus, job security and stability (Price 2004). Yet HRM is not generating such an environment. To the contrary, HRM, driven by economic and business imperatives, attempts to secure commitment through managerial interventions and discontinuous working arrangements (Fowler 1987, Price 2004). HRM is perhaps unconsciously fostering a milieu in which “individuals are forced to be an organizational member, but they do not identify with it.” (Etzioni 1975:9); that is, alienative involvement”. Thus the drastic changes in the socio economic and political structures of any country have made it imperative for the human resource practitioners to discuss the issue of job security with deepest insight possible and Australia is no exception to this approach.
iii. Is alienation endemic in all jobs? : The concept of alienation is more concerned with the worker’s perspective of jobs and not merely related to the nature of the jobs. Backing this view id the opinion of Weber (, p.67) “Alienation can result from either under or over identification within a group or both. When individuals are too little attuned to groups they experience alienation through isolation”. Therefore it can be concluded that alienation is endemic in all jobs and just not limited to few jobs. As alienation is not used only in terms of jobs or work it rather is applied to areas like religion, society, education etc. Supporting this view is the following statement by Sontag (2001, p.36) “To live through a period of alienation never feels good but we must all go through that experience if we are to understand what is near at hand and probably has become too familiar.”
Though Marx relates the source of the concept of alienation to the worker’s lack of control, Hegel, feels that the concept is more relevant when it comes to the aspect of spirituality. Hegel believed that spiritual development is essential to initiate progress in all spheres of life. Further, it is believed that alienation shall be experienced by all human beings of all caliber and status till they practice the concept of freedom (Sontag, 2001).
Conclusion: Therefore it can be rightly concluded that Karl Marx’s concept of alienation does not stand good enough for the work places of 21st century’s developed countries. In the event of globalization and radical political and economic changes occurring in Australia, alienation of any worker or individual can rarely happen. The specialization and delegation of labor that is so well defined in the 21st century, clearly determines the stop lines of almost all the parties involved yet collaborated with the required motivational attributes that are satisfactory to all the people concerned thus ensuring a sense of security in terms of finance, social status and pride. Though alienation is said be directly correlated with the existence of freedom, what needs to be borne in mind is “alienation can seldom transpire in the presence of adequate incentives which guarantee sustainable personal development”.
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