p There are two clear-cut types of progress in the history of human society. One of them is typical of the antagonistic formation, while the other takes place in socialist and communist society.

p In antagonistic societies progress is attained on the basis of the exploitation of one class by another, so progressive development of some classes goes hand-in-hand with regression of others. “Since the exploitation of one class by another,” Engels wrote, “is the basis of civilisation, its whole development moves in a continuous contradiction. Every advance in production is at the same time a retrogression in the condition of the 516 oppressed class, that is, of the great majority. What is a boon for the one is necessarily a bane for the other,- each new emancipation of one class always means a new oppression of another class.”  [516•1 

p This trend manifests itself both within a single country and internationally. Having gone forward in their development, some nations conquer others and begin to develop more rapidly by exploiting them. The oppressed nations are often not only deprived of a chance to develop further, but are thrown back. A relevant example is the development of industrialised capitalist countries ( Britain, France, etc.) through the plunder of numerous Asian, African and Latin American countries. Describing the progress of the bourgeoisie in some spheres of society’s life, Marx wrote: “Has it ever effected a progress without dragging individuals and peoples through blood and dirt, through misery and degradation?”  [516•2 

The main feature of an antagonistic society is that progress does not extend to all spheres of life. The development of some aspects often proceeds simultaneously with retrogression of others. For example, the supplanting of slave-owning production relations by feudal ones resulted in considerable progress in production, but the establishment of the religious ideology that accompanied it led to a regression in culture. Or take another 517 example, under capitalism considerable progress in technology is accompanied by a regression in art, philosophy, etc.