Class Inequality - Neo-Marxism

Question 1

What do Neo-Marxists broadly argue?

Answer 1

Despite many criticisms on Marxism, much of marx’s theory is still relevant to understanding social class inequalities in capitalist societies.

Question 2

What are the Neo-Marxist sociologists that discuss social class inequality?

Answer 2

Westergaad & Resler: Continuing importance of social class
Braverman: Proletarianisation of the middle classes
Gramsci: Hegemony and dual consciousness
Sklair: Globalisation and transnational corporations (TNCs)

Question 3

What sociologists say that there’s little evidence of class divisions disappearing?

Answer 3

Westergaad & Resler

Question 4

What do Westergaad & Resler discuss?

Answer 4

• Argued there was little evidence of class divisions in British society disappearing.
• Suggested inequalities could only be understood as the result of the way capitalism operates.
• Class divisions have arguably widened since the 1970s.

Question 5

Who discusses the proletarianisation of the middle classes?

Answer 5

Braverman

Question 6

What does Braverman discuss?

Answer 6

• So called ‘middle class’ workers have in reality been de-skilled.
• For example, the skills of clerical workers and professionals have been programmed into machines or broken down into simple tasks that can be performed by less skilled workers.
• This reduces the control such workers have over work processes which also means employers can pay them lower wages.
• The result is a process of proletarianisation whereby more and more workers who might have formerly been regarded as middle class are reduced to the same class position as the working class/ proletariat.

Question 7

Who talks about hegemony and dual consciousness?

Answer 7

Gramsci

Question 8

What does Gramsci discuss?

Answer 8

• Developed concept of hegemony to explain why the working class in europe have not risen up in revolution.
• The ruling class rarely needed to use force to exert power as they rule through persuasion.
• Hegemony means to encourage enough of the working class to side with the ruling class and the capitalist system to ensure stability of the economic system.
• This involves using institutions like media and education to control people’s minds.
• Hegemony is never complete. Many of the working class have dual consciousness and are somewhat aware of the inequalities of capitalism.
• Gramsci called on left wing intellectuals to build on this awareness to create a greater class consciousness and lead the working class to a revolution.

Question 9

What does Sklair discuss?

Answer 9

• Nation states now find it difficult to control the activities of Trans National Corporations (TNCS), giving them greater power than national governments.
• Those who control TNCs have became a global ruling class.

Question 10

Who discusses how TNCs have became a global ruling class?

Answer 10

Sklair

Question 11

What has the impact been of globalisation and transnational communications on society?

Answer 11

• Big businesses like Coca-Cola operate in a global economy, often controlling assets spread across a number of countries; they are TNSs.
• The largest TNSs have annual sales in excess of the gross national income of many poorer countries in the world.
• Sklair: Nation states now find it difficult to control the activities of Trans National Corporations (TNCS), giving them greater power than national governments.
• Those who control TNCs have became a global ruling class.