Marx

Question 1

What are the two types of social class of Marx?

Answer 1

Proletariat (workers) & Bourgeoise (capitalists)

Question 2

Describe the role of the proletariat

Answer 2

The proletariat is the worker. The worker lacks capital due to lack of opportunity within the social class that it’s in. As a result of these lack of opportunities, it must find work under the bourgeoise and provide labour power.

Question 3

Describe the role of the bourgeoise

Answer 3

The bourgeoise is the one with the capital. The bourgeoise are defined as those that have means of production and capital to invest in materials to produce products.

Question 4

What seperates the two classes proletariat and the bourgeoise

Answer 4

The ability to have private ownership of goods, those that are in a position of ownership and those that are not. This mean that a key-factor that distinguishes the two is one of an economic disparity.

Question 5

What does capitalism require there to be?

Answer 5

A divide in social classes between the bourgeoise and the proletariat.

Question 6

What allows capitalism to endure?

Answer 6

Exploitation of workers

Question 7

What is surplus value?

Answer 7

• This is the theory that workers (proletariats) are being exploited by being paid less than the value of the product that the worker has produced.
• This is due to the value of the product being worth a higher value than the labour power that went into creating it.
• A surplus value follows an M-C-M structure. This is where money is invested, commodity is sold, and then they receive money back (profit).

Question 8

Discuss one example of capitalism in modern day society

Answer 8

We can use the production of smartphones to highlight this. We find that those gathering materials, producing and manufacturing the product tend to be from lower social-class countries that take the work cheaply based on very poor living conditions (the proletariats). The head company (for example, Apple) are exploiting the workers by taking high profits for themselves. This leaves little money for the manufacturers, and as a result, leaves even less money for the workers. As the proletariats have little alternative options, they are forced into this situation.

Question 9

In what context did Marx make his hierachy of classes?

Answer 9

During the time of 1820-1860 he saw a massive industrial action.