Ethnicity: Marxism

Question 1

Marxist view on ethnic inequalities:

Answer 1

• Pessimistic view of race that says that immigration is a need of capitalism for labour.
• Aims to divide workers from each other which makes them easier to control.
• Conflict between ethnic groups is beneficial to the ruling class.

Question 2

Cox:

Answer 2

• Says the ideas of ‘race’ is a human creation.
• Cox says that racism is something that the exploiters developed against the exploited.
• Racism has its origins in the development of capitalism.
• Early capitalism is linked to colonialism as European nations though they were superior.
• White people developed capitalism and therefore white people developed racism.
• Therefore if capitalism didn’t exist – then racial prejudice wouldn’t exist.

Question 3

Evaluation of Cox

Answer 3

• Views are too simplistic (it is more complex than a direct link between racism and capitalist)
• Doesn’t treat race as a more important factor as this view is more interested in class

Question 4

Castles and Kosack:

Answer 4

• Most immigrants are employed in low skilled jobs with poor working conditions.
• These immigrants are seen as a reserve army of labour
• They are paid limited money (due to having less bargaining power) and they are used as scapegoats for social problems.

Question 5

Example of Castles and Kosack:

Answer 5

• 5th February 2004
• 23 Chinese undocumented migrants drowned whilst harvesting cockles at Morecambe Bay where a Chinese gangmaster was responsible for them being their
• These migrants had limited communication and no geographical knowledge

Question 6

How does the Morecambe tragedy relate to Castles and Kosack

Answer 6

Relates to Castles and Kosacks:
- These people worked in poor working conditions and as a result of this got killed – the ruling class should be blamed.
- Too simplistic as they think that all ethnic minorities are immigrants
- Immigration laws are a lot tighter now
- Many immigrants possess higher level skills (e.g. doctors, lawyers)

Question 7

Miles:

Answer 7

• Some ethnic minorities separate themselves from the white majority by celebrating their own cultural uniqueness
• E.g. Young black African-Caribbeans stress power through Rastafarian groups
• Ethnic minority groups become members of ‘racialised class fractions’
• These are reinforced when the white working class are discriminatory

Question 8

Evaluation of Miles:

Answer 8

• Downplays the possible cooperation between both groups in trade union movements where people come together to work in unison