Social means of production

Social means of production is a term from Marxism , socialism or communism .

In contrast to private individual means of production , it is about a social, very division of labor mode of production that requires many different skilled workers and workers and - if a capitalist mode of production prevails - also capital . Examples of individual / social production: cobbler / shoe factory or one-man courier service / national postal service.

In capitalism , Marxists and socialists see private control over social means of production as too great a power factor, which ultimately always leads to the control of state power (also in bourgeois democracies) and public opinion by state and private capitalist publishers and media groups .

Because of this, the socialization of social means of production is an important basic requirement of a socialist state or communist society and distinguishes "real socialists" from various social democratic parties that call themselves "socialist" but do not strive for socialization or nationalization of social means of production.

The term means of production is to be understood in the broadest sense and includes the production or provision of consumer goods, goods and services. The operation of a large office complex, the railroad or post office also works with social means of production in this sense.