Sociology Optional

UPSC
Paper – I
Unit – 4
Sociological Thinkers
(b) mode of production
1.4.1.2
•By – Abhishek Bhal
 mode of production
• Mode of Production:
“Mode of production refers to the varied ways through which human
beings collectively produce the means of subsistence in order to
survive and enhance social being.”
OR Simply
“The way a society is organized to produce goods and services.”
• Production is making goods needed for survival.
• Ex. Food, clothing, shelter and other items.
mode of production

Production
 mode of production
• Mode of Production consists of Forces of Production and Relations of
Production.
 mode of production
• Forces of Production:
It is the combination of the means of labour (tools, machinery, land,
infrastructure, and so on) with human labour power.

• Relations of Production:
Sum total of social relationships that people must enter into in order
to survive, to produce, and to reproduce their means of life
 mode of production
• Four Modes of Production:
 Asiatic / Primitive Communism
 Ancient
 Feudal
 Capitalist
 mode of production
1. Asiatic Mode of Production / Primitive Communism:
• Found in Primitive communities.
• Forces of production were communally owned.
• Ex. Hunting and gathering society.
• Class did not exist.
• Subsistence economy only meets basic survival needs.
• Classes emerge when the productive capacity of society expands
beyond the level required for subsistence.
• This occurs when agriculture becomes the dominant mode of
production.
 mode of production
2. Ancient Mode of Production :
• Master and slave society.
• Ex. Greece and Roman empire.
• Slavery is essence of Ancient Mode of Production.
• Master owns the slave and his labor.
• Slaves are not allowed to reproduce.
• Masters acquire wealth from slave labor.
 mode of production
3. Feudal Mode of Production :
• Feudalism:
– The dominant social system in medieval Europe (9th to 15th
century).
– King divided his lands and gave it to other rich people called
Dukes, Earls or Lords etc.
– In return these Lords had to obey king and give him a share of
taxes and other services like military support in wars.
– These lords had Serfs to work on their lands as agricultural labor.
– Serfs were legally bound to estates of Lords.
 mode of production
• Feudal Mode of Production :
• It had emerged on account of downfall and decentralization of
Roman Empire and absence of any central authority.
• Feudal system was based on allocation of land in return for service.
• Feudal Lords used to exploit Serfs.
• Serfs were deprived of property rights.
• Feudal Lords exploited Serfs through military strength.
 mode of production
4. Capitalist Mode of Production :
• Capitalism emerged with Industrial Revolution.
• Bourgeoisie: Owners of Means of Production.
• Proletariat: Wage earners, owned only their Labor Power.
• Goods are produced for sale rather than own use.
• Labor is sold in market like a commodity.
• Use of Money as a medium of exchange.
• Capitalists try to maximize their profits by exploiting workers.
• Different capitalists compete with each other to increase their market
share.
THANKS!

•By – Abhishek Bhal