conflict perspectives Flashcards
false class consciousness
believing that you have more money than you do and more knowledge of class’s then you do
marxist basics
overiding principle: everything does not function well together
there is conflict due to capitalism which leads to inequalities between different social class groups
modernist
based on work of karl marx
neo marxists continued tradition but provided a distinctive socialist approach
structuralist
argue that society shapes individual
people are puppets of society
must study institutions to understand people
conflict
disagreement on how society is run
marxism - exploitation of working class
the conflict
2 distinct power positions
ruling class vs working class
marxism is about pointing out and studying effects of social class inequities due to capitalism
bourgeoisie
dominant ruling class
proletariat
exploited working class
karl marx
at heart of all conflict is production
rich got greedy and wanted land and means of production for their own financial gains
saw opportunity to increase their wealth at costs of others
create two classes of people
economic base (infrastructure) and superstructure
superstructure - divide between rich and poor, what rich have and don’t have
marx believed economy determined nature of social institutions
economic base/ infrastructure determined everything else in society
means of production = producer goods
relations of production
relationships to people involved in production
capitalism
most extreme form of alienation
‘religion is the opium of the masses’
- karl marx
opium makes others lose their mind and act crazy
max weber
thinks bourgeoise not only own production but also power
bourgeoisie makes rules that suit their own lifestyles
people are not puppets of society
shows how people differ in their opportunities
higher someone’s social class at birth, the more likely they are to achieve well
louis althusser
idealogical state apparatus
working class surrounded by middle class ideology
ideological state apparatus (ISA)
social institutions portray capitalist values
emphasise idea that middle class values are best, whilst working class values are bad for society
repressive state apparatus (RSA)
police, army and law act to maintain unfair system and ensure everyone conforms
marxist theory - revolution
proletariat would realise exploitation and inequalities it produced a class consciousness
two separate groups in opposition
proletariat would join together against bourgeoisie through strikes
lead to a revolution and communism
dominant ideology
shared interests which serve to justify interests of dominant groups
life chances
social science theory of opportunities each individual has to improve their quality of life
social class
division of society based on social and economic status
class conflict
conflict between different classes in community resulting from different social and economic positions
alienation
having no connection with people around you/ not part of a group
pierre bourdieu
french sociologist famous for his ideas of middle class privilege
argued that middle classes have access to three main forms of capital
