Ethnic Inequality- Marxism

Question 1

How does immigration serve the needs of the ruling class? (Cox)

Answer 1

Labour is used to divide workers from each-other so they are easier to control.

Question 2

Who argued race was a human creation? Why did they think this?

Answer 2

Cox
- Racism is developed by exploiters.
- Capitalism needs to systematically exploit labour power.
- Racism was developed to justify exploitation.

Question 3

What did early capitalism go hand it hand with?

Answer 3

Colonialism

Question 4

(C) How can Cox’s theory be seen as too simplistic?

Answer 4

It is hard to prove that racism is a capitalist ideology.

Question 5

(C) Why has Cox’s study been labelled as race ‘blind’?

Answer 5

They don’t treat race as an important factor or in its own right. They mainly question the economic differences caused by capitalism.

Question 6

What did Castles & Kosack find out about most immigrants?

Answer 6

• They were part of the ‘reserved army of labour’.
• Were concentrated in low skilled and payed manual jobs.

Question 7

Why was a ‘Reserved Army of Labour’ needed? (C+K)

Answer 7

• Due to the fluctuating fortunes of the economy, they needed workers they can quickly hire and fire.
• It also provided a cheap pool of workers who could be profitably exploited.

Question 8

The arrival of immigrants led to the working class divided into two layers. What were these? (C+K)

Answer 8

• White population- top layer
• Immigrant workers- bottom layer

Question 9

Why was the ‘divide and role’ beneficial for the ruling class? (C+K)

Answer 9

• Suppressed the overall wage levels of the working classes.
• Immigrants could be scapegoated. (blamed for housing shortages, unemployment…)

Question 10

Why was scapegoating immigrants beneficial for the ruling class? (C+K)

Answer 10

It diverted the white working class’ attention away from the real cause of inequalities from capitalism. Also divided the working class.

Question 11

What is a criticism for Castles & Kosack’s Marxist theory?

Answer 11

• Not all ethnic minorities are disadvantaged. Recent statistics show how there are 5000 Muslim millionaires in Britain.
• Immigration laws have became tighter, meaning economic migrants usually have qualifications.

Question 12

Who discussed the idea of class and status being used alongside each other to explain racism?

Answer 12

Miles

Question 13

How may ethnic minorities set them self apart from the white majority? +example (Miles).

Answer 13

By celebrating and stressing their cultural uniqueness. e.g. Asians may stress importance of family ties and community through where they choose to live and who they choose to marry.

Question 14

How are ‘racialised class fractions’ encouraged by the white working class? (Miles)

Answer 14

When they stress the importance of their ethnicity and nationality through prejudice and discrimination.

Question 15

What may white working class workers not perceive middle class ethnic minorities as? What does this show? (Miles)

Answer 15

Having a higher status than them. Highlights how ethnic minorities experience status inequality.

Question 16

(C) Where does Miles downplay possible cooperation between the white working class and ethnic minorities in the working class?

Answer 16

In trade union movements who ensure rights for workers.

Question 17

Who are the three main Marxist theorists for ethnicity?

Answer 17

• Cox - idea of race was created by capitalism to justify actions
• Castles and Kosack - ‘reserved army of labour’ ‘divide and rule’
• Miles - racialised class fractions causing status inequality

Question 18

Overall, what does Cox believe?

Answer 18

• Racism was created through exploiters to justify their actions through capitalism. - Colonialism exists due to capitalism.

Question 19

Overall, what does Castles and Kosack believe?

Answer 19

• Ethnic minorities are part of the ‘reserved army of labour’. It’s necessary to have more workers than jobs. They are a cheap pool of workers.
• Led to working class being divided into the top layer (white population) or bottom layer (immigrant workers).
• This divide and rule tactic meant immigrants were scapegoated and the working class were too divided to overthrow capitalism.

Question 20

What does Miles discuss overall?

Answer 20

• Says status should work alongside class.
• Ethnic minorities set themself apart from white majority and the white majority discriminate against them.
• This causes ‘racialised class fractions’ where the middle-class white people do not see middle class ethnic minorities as having the same level as status.
• Shows how they can face status inequality as well as class inequality.