Marxism

Question 1

Explain the basic views of traditional marxism on society

Answer 1

The basic views on traditional marxism is that capitalism and ruling class ideology maintains class inequality

Question 2

What are some arguments that marxism is a useful theory ?

Answer 2

• It is useful because it acknowledges class conflict and inequalities which differs from theories such as functionalism that takes a deterministic , unrealistic view of society that sees institutions such as the family as positive .

Question 3

What type of theory is marxism ?

Answer 3

Marxism is a structural theory as people’s actions are shaped by society specifically the economic system
- conflict view of society

Question 4

Give a brief overview of the marxist perspective regarding methods ?

Answer 4

• Because of capitalism which was caused by the owners of the means of production eg *(ruling class ) the working class are exploited in order for a profit to be ,ade which therefore reinforces class inequality.

Question 5

Who owns the means of production ?

Answer 5

The bourgeoisie , these are the people that get the profit

Question 6

How does capitalism shape society ?

Answer 6

Capitalism shapes society through wealth this encourages power and capitalism which in turn shapes and controls society according to karl marx.
- Capitalism is the infrastructure of society

Question 7

What is a capitalist infrastructure ?

Answer 7

This is the framework for society which shapes the rest of the world and how it operates , this gives the ruling class the power to shape society without any challenges because they keep the economy going

Question 8

How is capitalism maintained ?

Answer 8

Capitalism is maintained through the ISAS( according to althusser)
- the infrastructure shapes the superstructure which is made up of isas such as education , the family , the media which directly affect society

Question 9

How do ISA’s maintain capitalism ?

Answer 9

ISA's maintain capitalism through the shaping of the infrastructure .
- this reproduces capitalist ideologies through institutions such as education, and religion because it is spreading ruling class ideas that disadvantage the working class , therefore creating a false class consciousness that brainwash the proletariat into thinking they aren't being brainwashed

Question 10

Give some examples on how isas maintain capitalism.

Answer 10

Media - THE MEDIA transmits capitalist ideologies and values through the news , newspapers and social media that gives the working class unrealistic expectations to live up to for example the American dream gives hope to w/c that if they keep working they will be able to live a perfect life when in fact this is a concept that is used to brainwash the working class into thinking they aren’t being exploited.

Education - this perpetuates capitalism by teaching the values of the ruling class. according to bowles and gintis the hidden curriculum encourages students to want to submit to capitalist employers eg through uniform , attendance at school etc that enables them to be ready for a capitalist workforce , this is also seen thorough the acceptance of hierarchy etc

• The family - the family specifically the nuclear family legitimises and maintains capitalism because it enables capitalism to be reproduced through wealth according to engels property ownership encourages monogamy and kept the wealthy rich whislt the poor remain poor.
• Religion - Religion mainatins capitalism because it acts as an opium of the people according to karl marx. he suggests that relogion is a drug that numbs the pain of oppression by suggetsing that thoes who suffer now will be rewareded in the heaven therefore justifying social order

Question 11

What are the problems with capitalism ?

Answer 11

• Oppression -
• Alienation -
• Exploitation - because the working class are working long hours for minimum wage and have been manipulated to think that it is normal it has resulted in a surplus where the rich are getting richer because the value/ goods that are being produced by working class is going in to the hnd of the bougies

Question 12

What are some contemporary example of capitalism ?

Answer 12

• Grenfell tower - because of capitalism and the power of the ruling class nobody was responsible for the deaths of working class people because of the increased want for a surplus( more profit )
• Covid pandemic - increased prices of gas , fuel , toilet paper in a vulnerable time because the ruling class want more profit

Question 13

Name some concepts of traditional marxism ]

Answer 13

• Infrastructure
• Owners of the means of production
• Superstructure
• Dominate ideas
• Class conflic
• Class conciousness

Question 14

What is the Neo marxists perspective ?

Answer 14

• The neo marxists perspective acknowledges traditional marxists views on inequality and exploitation however they see the marxist perspective as too economically deterministic

Question 15

What is the Neo marxists perspective ?

Answer 15

• The neo marxists perspective acknowledges traditional marxists views on inequality and exploitation however they see the marxist perspective as too economically deterministic

Question 16

What is meant by economically deterministic?Who states this concept

Answer 16

Economically deterministic means that there is a significant reliance on the economic system and how much control that posses but in fact there are other factors that influence how much control the ruling class have

Question 17

What is the neo marxists perspective on the economic base

Answer 17

• Neo marxists suggest that there is a separation between the economic bases and the superstructure , isas can shape society in there own way they do not have to adapt a capitalist ideology

Question 18

What is gramsics argument ?

Answer 18

Gramsci argues that the economic base/ economy is not the most important , influential part of society in fact he suggests that ideologies has relative autonomy( it is flexible) he argues that specifically hegemonic ideology is so dominate that the working class do not see any alternative

Question 19

What type of marxists is Althusser >

Answer 19

Althusser is a structuralist marxist that argues that society has three levels that make up society
-Ideological - isas that are concerend with the values and ideas

• Political - the organisations that are involved in controlling and organising society rsas
• Economic - the trade and production of goods and services

Question 20

What is the importance of althusers ideas on the other factoes in society that contribute to capitalism ?

Answer 20

His factors prove that marx ideas aren’t the most powerful it also suggests that isas can be used to teach new - anti capitalist ideologies and ideas eg the burmese monks 2017

Question 21

Give some evaluations of marxism ?

Answer 21

• Radical feminist would criticise arguing that the root of conflict in society is not class or economic , it is gender and patriarchy that has been reproduced ny the spread of ideas from men . not capitalism
• Neo marxists has been criticised for being comapred to a cocpericy theory

Question 22

Compare marxism which Funct

Answer 22

Do not see the basis of social order as being “shared values” and basic
consensus over agreed social goals / ends. On the contrary, they see “shared
values” and “consensus” as being mystification’s - a way of manufacturing and
manipulating people’s perception of the social world to suit the basic interests of a