Meaning: This quote by Earl Browder, a prominent American communist and political activist, reflects the Marxist perspective on the relationship between the development of productive forces and the corresponding political and ideological structure of society. In Marxist theory, the productive forces refer to the means of production, including technology, machinery, and human labor, that are essential for creating goods and services. According to Marx and Engels, the mode of production, which encompasses the productive forces and the relations of production, forms the foundation of society and has a decisive influence on its political and ideological framework.

Browder's quote emphasizes the idea that the level of development of the productive forces within a given society shapes the political and ideological superstructure. The term "superstructure" in Marxist theory refers to the institutions, culture, and ideology that arise as a result of the underlying economic base. These include the state, legal system, education, religion, media, and other aspects of societal organization and belief systems.

When Browder mentions the "system of social organization," he is alluding to the broader framework of institutions and power structures that emerge from the economic base. In Marxist analysis, the ruling class in a society uses the superstructure to maintain its dominance and perpetuate the existing mode of production. This can involve shaping the legal system to protect property rights, promoting certain ideologies that justify the status quo, and utilizing state power to enforce the interests of the ruling class.

The quote suggests that the political and ideological superstructure is "crystallized" from the underlying economic conditions. In other words, the prevailing ideas, values, and political arrangements in a society are shaped by the material conditions of production and the corresponding social relations. This concept aligns with the historical materialist approach of Marxism, which asserts that the development of human societies is fundamentally driven by changes in the material and economic sphere.

From a Marxist perspective, different stages of economic development give rise to distinct forms of social organization and superstructures. For example, in feudal societies, where agriculture was the dominant mode of production, the superstructure included monarchies, feudal hierarchies, and religious institutions that reflected and reinforced the agrarian economy. With the advent of capitalism and industrialization, new political and ideological structures emerged to serve the needs of a society based on wage labor, private property, and commodity production.

Browder's quote can be interpreted as highlighting the dynamic and dialectical relationship between the economic base and the superstructure. While the productive forces set the stage for the type of social organization that emerges, the superstructure also plays a role in shaping and perpetuating the existing economic relations. This interplay between the base and superstructure forms the basis of class struggle and social change in Marxist analysis.

In summary, Earl Browder's quote encapsulates the Marxist perspective on the interconnection between the development of productive forces, the political and ideological superstructure, and the system of social organization. It underscores the fundamental role of economic conditions in shaping the broader framework of societal institutions and beliefs, and it reflects the central tenets of historical materialism within Marxist theory.

Overall, the quote serves as a succinct expression of the Marxist understanding of the relationship between the economic base and the superstructure, providing a lens through which to analyze the dynamics of social and political development in different historical contexts.