What is a proletariate?

Proletariat refers to the social class of individuals who do not own the means of production (such as factories, land, or machinery) and must sell their labor power for wages to survive. In Marxist theory, the proletariat is the industrial working class in capitalist societies, whose primary economic value lies in their capacity to work. They are exploited under capitalism because the value they produce through labor exceeds the wages they receive, with the difference—known as surplus value—appropriated by the bourgeoisie (the capitalist class).

The term originates from ancient Rome, where proletarii were citizens with little or no property, whose main contribution to the state was their offspring, expected to serve in the military. In the 19th century, Karl Marx revived the term to describe the modern industrial working class created by the Industrial Revolution. Marx viewed the proletariat as a revolutionary class with the potential to overthrow capitalism, abolish class distinctions, and establish a classless, communist society.

Key characteristics of the proletariat:

• Owns no significant property or means of production.
• Earns income solely through selling labor.
• Faces economic insecurity and exploitation under capitalism.
• Is central to Marx’s theory of class struggle, opposing the bourgeoisie.

While the term is rooted in historical and economic theory, it is often used today to describe wage-earning workers in industrial, service, or gig economies—particularly in discussions about inequality, labor rights, and systemic power imbalances.

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Tuesday, March 24, 2026 09:21AM

WHAT is a prolatariate - Brave Search

also see: Who is Prolotario?

updated:

Tuesday, March 24, 2026 09:20AM