A Hypothetical Conversation Between Karl Marx, Peter Singer, and Jurgen Habermas

Karl Marx would have agreed with Peter Singer’s evaluation that globalization brought on by changes and advancements in technology have changed the conversation in regard to the role of the nation-state, but he would have disagreed with Singer’s call for the rich nations to, in effect, police themselves and altruistically manifest a global ethical viewpoint. Instead, Marx would have argued for a more violent overthrow of the existing social super-structure. Furthermore, Marx would have contended that globalization and the creation of a global economy founded upon capitalism without the overthrow of the existing bourgeois would just further the interests of the ruling class. Marx would also have agreed with Jurgen Habermas’ view that improving the living conditions of all as a means to change the super-structure and that unfettered capitalism leads to the deleterious stratification of world society, but, again, would have disagreed as to the effectiveness of the essentially peaceful communicative action in the public sphere, posited by Habermas, as a means to eliminate the division within society. In all likelihood, Marx would probably be more inclined to see the merits of violent terrorism campaigns of shock and awe as opposed to a self-imposed Western revision of self-image. While these three theorists have their dissimilarities there is a common thread to their argument—globalization can be a tremendous force for peaceful global unity, but only if the focus is on the improvement of the standard of living, not merely to advance the interests of the few. Furthermore, globalization in its current state continues to uphold the existing power structure, and it is morally imperative to readdress traditional notions in regard to globalization.
Karl Marx not only argued that capitalism results in the dehumanizing stratification of the vast majority of the populace, but he also argued for a radical reevaluation of traditional ideas. Marx recognized that capitalism is