Functionalist& Marxists Flashcards
What is capitalism?
Capitalists are the ruling class and create and employ the proletariat
Marxist view on how society is set up by capitalists?
Through capitalism the ruling classes (bourgeoisie) exploit the working class (proletariat)
What’s an ideology?
Set of beliefs
What’s the Marxist theory of ideology?
Ideologies we have developed are made by us consciously but are conditioned to us by the ruling class
Base and superstructure? Marxists (Karl Marx)
Economy was the driving force in society and was determined by the nature of social institutions , this was divided into 2 parts:
Means of production: land,factories
Relations of production: shared ownership
And he also saw a superstructure which was society’s institutions eg family determined by the economic system
What did Marx think would eventually happen?
The proletariat would realise they were being exploited and try and overthrow the bourgeoise causing a revolution, so the means of production would be handed over to the state, meaning we would have a communist society (an equal society)
Who created the Marxist theory?
Karl Marx
Functionalist theory mainly created by?
Emily Durkheim & talcott parsons
What do functionalists see society like?
The human body , made up of interrelated parts that all work together to maintain society as a whole
What do functionalists argue that any societies have?
Functional prerequisites (certain basic needs) that must be met for society to survive, may include the production of food
According to functionalist sociology what do social institutions do?
Meet functional prerequisites, maintaining the social system and order/stability in society.
The new right perspective is?
Political philosophy , Associated with the conservative government between 1979-1997
New right has 4 main approaches?
Emphasis on individual freedom&self interest
Reduced spending by the state by making individuals more self reliant
A defence of the free market
Stress on the importance of traditional institutions and roles
