2.2 Marxists & Weber on Class Inequality Flashcards
(Marxists) which two social classes is society divided into?
Bourgeoisie owning means of production
Proletariat workers selling their labour
(Marxists) Bourgeoisie owning means of production gives them what?
power and control over institutions e.g. politics, education to instill their ideology
(Marxists) what is their between the bourgeoisie and proletariat?
conflict of interests
(Marxists) the workers create wealth but what happens to it?
only a fraction is repaid in the form of surplus value
(Marxists) the bourgeoisie aim to do what?
drive wages down and keep profits high
(Marxists) what did Marx say would happen to capitalism?
it would suffer a series of contradictions which would lead to it’s downfall
(Marxists) what contradictions did Marx say capitalism would suffer?
polarisation of social classes
alienation
economic crisis
(Marxists) what is polarisation of social classes?
Growing divide between the bourgeoisie and proletariat as they tried to drive down wages and increase profits
(Marxists) what is alienation?
Workers would be dissatisfied having no control over their work
Encouraged to find satisfaction in consumer goods
(Marxists) in the economic crisis what would lead to the collapse of the capitalist system?
Series of booms and busts
(Marxists) for the capitalist system to collapse what do the proletariat have to develop?
Class consciousness and act as a revolutionary force to overthrow capitalism
(Marxists) what prevents the proletariat overthrowing the bourgeoisie?
False class consciousness Ruling class ideology justifying capitalism and its inequality
(Marxists - criticisms) who did Marx ignore?
A middle class He focused on the B and P
(Marxists - criticisms) what had happened to the middle class?
It has expanded in size and importance
(Marxists - criticisms) what is their little sign of in western societies?
Class consciousness
There are fewer strikes, trade union memberships are declining
(Marxists - criticisms) Marx proposed capitalism would eventually collapse, but what has actually happened?
In most western societies the working class enjoy rising living standards and more access to consumer goods
(Marxists - strengths) what did westertgaard argue there was little evidence of?
Class divisions disappearing there are still a bourgeoisie owning most of the wealth and the divide has grown
(Marxists - strengths) What has happened to the middle class?
Proletarianisation
(Marxists - strengths) braverman argues what has happened to middle class workers?
They have been deskilled - their skills have been programmed into machines
(Marxists - strengths) the deskilling of the middle class reduces their control and leads to what?
Lower wages
(Neo-Marxism) what concept did Gramsci develop?
Hegemony
(Neo-Marxism) what does hegemony explain?
Why the proletariat have not developed class consciousness and revolted
(Neo-Marxism) what is hegemony?
The point at which ruling class ideology is seen as common sense
(Neo-Marxism) what do the ruling class rule by?
Persuasion
(Neo-Marxism) how do institutions help rule by persuasion?
Education and the media persuade the proletariat that capitalism is just and fair and inequality is inevitable
(Neo-Marxism) why did Gramsci argue hegemony is never complete?
The working class experience exploitation and alienation Many have dual consciousness they are to some degree aware of the inequalities of capitalism
(Marxism - evaluation) how does the fall of communism and removal of the stature of Lenin suggest Marxism doesn’t have relevance?
Removal of statue of leader of communist revolution implies we don’t want revolution and more equal society
(Marxism - evaluation) how is Marxism still relevant in relation to garment workers in Bangladesh?
They earn far below the living wage and work in appalling conditions for up to 16 hours a day
Demonstrating polarisation
(Weber) what did Weber argue the 3 dimensions to stratification were?
Social class
Status
Party
(Weber) how did Weber define class?
Group sharing a similar market situation sharing similar life chances
(Weber) what did Weber agree with Marx on? But what else did he identify?
Agreed there was a major division between owners of factories and workers but he said there were other social classes
(Weber) what were the 4 social classes identified?
Propertied upper class
Property less white collar workers
Petty bourgeoisie
Manual working class
(Weber) who are the propertied upper class?
Wealthy owners of big business
(Weber) who are the property less white collar workers?
Middle class Those with educational qualifications putting them in a better market situation than manual workers
(Weber) who are the petty bourgeoisie?
Owners of small businesses
(Weber) who are the manual working class?
Those with poorest market situation
No wealth of educational qualifications
(Weber) what is status?
Social honour
How much respect a person receives from others seen as inferior
(Weber) in capitalist societies what is closely linked?
Class and status
Wealth is a major source of status
(Weber) Weber suggested in some cases an individual might develop an identity based on what?
Status rather than class
(Weber) how might some with low class achieve high status?
Sporting achievements or charity work
(Weber) Weber said although people may not be class conscious what are they usually aware of?
Their status situation
They usually identify with those of a similar status
(Weber) what are parties?
Groups concerned with exercising power or influencing decision making
(Weber) give examples of parties:
Political parties
Trade unions
Pressure groups e.g. Greenpeace
Status groups e.g. Stonewall
(Weber - criticisms) what do marxists say focusing on multiple classes does?
Obscures the main division between the bourgeoisie and proletariat
(Weber - criticisms) marxists argue status divisions between members of the proletariat are encouraged as what?
A means of divide and rule
(Weber - strength) how have webers ideas influenced classification?
Many sociologists adopt a multi class model rather than a Marxist 2 class model
(Weber - criticisms) how have Weber a ideas influenced research?
Ideas of social class and life chances has influenced much research
(Weber - criticisms) how have Weber’s ideas influenced new social movements?
Social class has become less important and movements have arisen such as the women’s movement and environmentalism
(Postmodernism) argue what is happening to class?
Losing its significance
(Postmodernism) Marx and Weber’s theories are what?
Meta narratives
No longer relevant
People now see themselves as individuals
(Postmodernism) beck argues in society most people have enough to do what?
Satisfy material needs e.g. Food and clothing
(Postmodernism) beck says this leads to focus on what?
New problems/ risks
E.h. Global warming which affects people of all classes
