Marxism Flashcards
Explain the basic views of traditional marxism on society
The basic views on traditional marxism is that capitalism and ruling class ideology maintains class inequality
What are some arguments that marxism is a useful theory ?
- 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 .
What type of theory is marxism ?
Marxism is a structural theory as people’s actions are shaped by society specifically the economic system
- conflict view of society
Give a brief overview of the marxist perspective regarding methods ?
- 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.
Who owns the means of production ?
The bourgeoisie , these are the people that get the profit
How does capitalism shape society ?
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
What is a capitalist infrastructure ?
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
How is capitalism maintained ?
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
How do ISA’s maintain capitalism ?
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
Give some examples on how isas maintain capitalism.
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
What are the problems with capitalism ?
- 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
What are some contemporary example of capitalism ?
- 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
Name some concepts of traditional marxism ]
- Infrastructure
- Owners of the means of production
- Superstructure
- Dominate ideas
- Class conflic
- Class conciousness
What is the Neo marxists perspective ?
- The neo marxists perspective acknowledges traditional marxists views on inequality and exploitation however they see the marxist perspective as too economically deterministic
What is the Neo marxists perspective ?
- The neo marxists perspective acknowledges traditional marxists views on inequality and exploitation however they see the marxist perspective as too economically deterministic
What is meant by economically deterministic?Who states this concept
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
What is the neo marxists perspective on the economic base
- 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
What is gramsics argument ?
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
What type of marxists is Althusser >
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
What is the importance of althusers ideas on the other factoes in society that contribute to capitalism ?
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
Give some evaluations of marxism ?
- 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
Compare marxism which Funct
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
