What is Infrastructure?

From the standpoint of philosophical perspective, according to the theory of historical materialism: Infrastructure (CSHT) encompasses all production relations (QHSX) that constitute the economic structure of a given society. Infrastructure includes the following three basic types of production relations:

- Dominant production relations are the prevalent type of QHSX, occupying a large proportion in that social economic structure;- Residual production relations pertain to the previous society whose social institutions have disappeared;- Nascent production relations are the emerging type of QHSX.

Among these, the dominant production relations play a leading role, influencing other production relations and determining the overall trend of social life. Therefore, the infrastructure of a specific society is characterized by its dominant production relations. However, residual and nascent production relations also play certain roles.

For example, in a feudal society, slave-owning production relations are residual, feudal production relations are dominant, and capitalist production relations are nascent.

In the current infrastructure of Vietnam, there are many economic components such as the collective economy, the state economy, the private economy of small producers, and the private capitalist economy.

Production relations are objectively formed during the production process and constitute the material relations of society. On the basis of production relations, political and spiritual relations of society are formed. These two aspects of social life are generalized into infrastructure and superstructure. Hence, mentioning infrastructure must be accompanied by superstructure because they have a dialectical relationship with each other. The superstructure (KTTT): consists of all ideologies, political legal systems, philosophy, art, morality, religion, etc., along with corresponding institutions (state, parties, churches). Each element of the KTTT has its unique characteristics, rules of movement, and development, but they are interconnected, interact with each other, and all are formed based on the CSHT.

However, it is necessary to distinguish this CSHT term from the commonly used CSHT term, which refers to physical infrastructure, such as electricity, roads, schools, clinics, etc., which are primarily used as the foundation for production, business, and daily activities and are purely tangible material.

Related documents:

Construction Law 2014

>> CLICK HERE TO READ THIS ARTICLE IN VIETNAMESE