Marx Flashcards
functionalism
KEY THINKERS
- Durkheim
- Parsons
- Davis and Moore
- Murdock
consensus theory
an agreement of values in society that creates order and stability in society
organic analogy
the human body is like society- some parts are more important than others
value consensus
social institutions such as family, media, education and workplace- creates order and stability in society
social solidarity
everything functions for the benefit of society- to create order
meritocracy
if you work hard you should be successful in society and be rewarded
social mobility
ability to move through society- working hard=moving up in social classes
stratification
systems or inequality eg gender. ethnicity, race, social class)
division of labour
people doing different jobs
functional importance
everything has a function in society
New Right
KEY THINKERS
- Saunders
- Murray
- Schlafly
Saunders
- people are encouraged to pursue self-interest
- competition ensures services increase in quality and fall in price
- ‘trickle-down theory’: some entrepreneurs make some people rich, at the same time the rest of society benefits, grows and becomes more affluent
Murray
- underclass are lazy, workshy, immoral, criminal+dependent on benefits
- the underclass are a ‘dependency culture’
- blames the welfare state for not providing incentive to work and causing these groups to emerge
Marxism
KEY THINKERS
- Marx
- Westergaard
- Scott
- Engels
exploitation
in a capitalist system the bourgeoisie exploit the proletariat by paying them low wages for their work so that they can make greater profits
alienation
the way workers feel when doing boring work. they have no control over their work. they are kept separate from each other in creating their part of the final product
false class consciousness
false view of society and your position in it, not aware of being exploited and think you can get wealthy too
mass production
objectification is necessary as this is the only production can be quick and efficient. capitalist society requires production of goods for large numbers of people
Westergaard
- class differences become stronger in late 20th century
- top 10% increase income
- lowest incomes=almost no rise
- polarisation
Scott
- social closure
- old boy network
- intermarriage
Neo-Marxism
KEY THINKERS
- Gramsci
- Wright
- Bravermann
Gramsci
Hegemony
- Explains why the working class in Western European countries had not risen up in revolution.
- refers to the ruling class get just enough working class people on their to follow their ruling class ideologies to ensure that revolution does not occur - The ruling class rarely need to use force to exert power because they rule through persuasion.
Wright
- acknowledges three classes:
- Ruling class
- middle class
- working class
- ruling class has full power
- middle class has partial control
- middle class supervisors- minimal control
- working class- no control
Bravermann
- some white collar workers have lost the advantages they had over manual employees
- proletarianised
- pay levels are threatened
