Marxism

Question 1

Two ways in which Marxism differs from Functionalism:

Answer 1

• Society is not based on consensus, It is based on conflict between social classes with unequal power and wealth.
• Society is not stable: it only appears so because the dominant class are (currently) able to control the rest of us.

Question 2

Historical materialism:

Answer 2

Materialism says that the physical world is what matters. What matters is physical experiences.
Humans enter into social relations of production according to Marx, which means we work together to produce things.
Two classes -> Bourgeoisie and Proletariat.

Question 3

Three key marxist concepts:

Answer 3

Mode of production = refers to a historical period with a different economic system.
Economic base = how the economy is organised; this shaped everything else in society.
Superstructure = is everything else, e.g. families, education, media, etc…

Question 4

Three key features of primitive communism.

Answer 4

• No classes
• No private property
• No exploitation

Question 5

Surplus product

Answer 5

Graining more than they need to survive -> controlling resources allows them to gain power over other people.

Question 6

Forms of exploitation of the following class societies:

Answer 6

Ancient society = owners own slave.
Feudal society = aristocrats own the land, serfs belong to the land.
Capitalist society = capitalists own businesses, wage labourers’ choose to work for them in return for wages.

Question 7

Three distinctive features of Capitalism:

Answer 7

• Capitalism is owned by a smaller and smaller group of people.
• Work becomes less skilled and more routine (proletarianisation)
• Unlike slaves and serfs, workers are technically free. They choose to work. But are paid less than the value of their work.

Question 8

Ideology

Answer 8

Ideas that justify inequality.

Question 9

False consciousness

Answer 9

Is when workers think that Capitalism is fair and inevitable and that communism doesn’t work.

Question 10

Marx (Alienation)

Answer 10

We do not have control over our work. We sell our minds and bodies to our employers.
Alienation in a Capitalist society =
We have no control over our work. We sell our minds and bodies to our employers.
Work is unskilled and mindlessly repetitive.

Question 11

Marx (function of the state)

Answer 11

. The state (government) is made up of “bodies of armed men” (e.g. police and army) Its job is to help capitalists stay in power. They have a monopoly on violence.

Question 12

Criticisms of Marx’s view of class:

Answer 12

. Weber -> class is not the only division in society. It is made up of class, party and status.
. Marx ignores distinctions within classes (e.g. Weber distinguishes between skilled and unskilled workers).
. Class polarisation and proletarianisation (W/C people get poorer) hasn’t happened.

Question 13

Economic determinism

Answer 13

Means that economics decides everything else.

Question 14

Humanistic or critical Marxism:

Answer 14

. We haven’t had a revolution because most people don’t want one.

Question 15

Scientific or structural Marxism:

Answer 15

. We just need to be patient and capitalism will collapse on its own accord.

Question 16

Humanistic or critical Marxism theorists:

Answer 16

. Antonio Gramsci
. Alienation
. Political
. Voluntarism
. Encourages political action

Question 17

Scientific or structuralist Marxism theories:

Answer 17

. Althusser
. Laws
. Science
. Determinism
. Discourages political action

Question 18

Gramsci’s concept of hegemony:

Answer 18

Hegemony means leadership.

Question 19

Two ways in which the ruling class maintain their dominance:

Answer 19

. Coercion the use of force and threat of force.
. Consent (hegemony) by persuading the proletariat that their leadership is legitimate. They deserve to be in control because they are the best.

Question 20

According to Gramsci, how are the ruling class able to prevent a revolution?

Answer 20

. Control institutions that spread ideas (education, the media and religion)

Question 21

Why the hegemony of the ruling class is never complete:

Answer 21

. The ruling class are a minority Need to make more alliances with other classes, e.g. the middle class
. The proletariat have a dual consciousness We have the ideas that the ruling class put in our heads, but also have our own experiences. We are taught capitalism is fair, but our own experiences teach us that it isn’t.

Question 22

Counter-hegemonic bloc

Answer 22

Communist leadership that offers an alternative to capitalist leadership.

Question 23

Gramsci organic intellectuals

Answer 23

Educated, W/C communists.