Classical Marxism Flashcards
marxism - economy
driving force in society
marxism - economic base (infrastructure)
involved in the means of production and relations of production
marxism - superstructure
social institutions and beliefs/values influenced by the economic system
marxism - exploitation
capitalist exploit the working-class by keeping wages as low as possible
marxism - surplus value
extra value workers produce that goes to the employer as profit
marxism - bourgeoisie
small wealthy and powerful class of owners
marxism - proletariat
larger poorer class of non-owners
marxism - labour power
peoples capacity to work
proletariat sell their labour to the bourgeoisie for salary
marxism - class conflict
workers want higher wages for a better lifestyles at the expense of bosses profits
bosses want higher profits to expand their business by keeping wages low
marxism - the ruling class
government can't afford to ignore the bourgeoisie or face social problems concerned with protecting the ruling class interests
marxism - dominant ideology
ideas of the ruling class & the major institutions in the superstructure of society
marxism - false consciousness
workers brainwashed into accepting their problems and that everyone benefits from this society to avoid rebellion
marxism - revolution
Marx working-class will develop class consciousness: awareness of their exploitation which will lead to a revolution
marxism - communism
type of society thats runs in the interests of everyone, without exploitation, classes and class conflict
marxism - criticisms (functionalist)
there are shared values which is why the revolution haven’t succeeded
over-empahises extent of conflict
