marxism Flashcards
consensus theories
argue the changes in society are POSITIVE
- claim that people in society share a sense of right and wrong
- quite an optimistic view - argue that societal problems = warning and society can solve them
- eg functionalism
conflict theories
regard society as being UNEQUAL
- resulting in the oppression of a particular group
- argue solution to inequality = large-scale social change
- eg marxism & feminism
Karl Marx argued that …
the relationship people have with the ECONOMY shapes everything else
- ideas, relationships, belief systems, culture
what type of society did Marx think we lived in?
a CAPITALIST society
what 2 social classes is a capitalist society made up of?
Bourgeoisie - ruling class
- own the means of production, eg factories
Proletariat - working class
- exploited (by ruling class) for their wage labour
what idea is capitalism based on?
the idea of PRIVATE OWNERSHIP OF PROPERTY
- encourages the individual pursuit of profit
- Marx argued this system creates great INEQUALITIES
why was Marx critical of capitalism?
ruling class would get richer and more powerful, while conditions for working class would remain poor
what provides relief to the working class from feelings of exploitation and alienation?
institutions, like religion and the family
- explaining away inequality and making people accept their oppressed position
what is false class-consciousness?
the idea that people are NOT AWARE of the true EXTENT of their EXPLOITATION
- Marx - in a capitalist society, the WC accept their oppressed position
when would society change into a communist or socialist, according to Marx?
when the Proletariat become AWARE of their exploited position
- they would come together and overthrow the system in a REVOLUTION
- after which, society would change radically
according to Marx, what would a communist or socialist society do?
- remove the private ownership of property
- make sure that everyone’s equal
- removing social class differences
strengths of Marxism (2)
class is still very important in explaining inequality in society
- eg in determining success in education and at work
a revolution didn’t happen in the UK, and where it did happen, communism has been prone to CORRUPTION
- small powerful elite, while the majority are often hugely disadvantaged (eg the former USSR)
- shows that class system cannot be broken
weaknesses of Marxism (4)
society has CHANGED since Marx was writing
- there’s now many attempts to make society fairer
- introduction of free healthcare, benefits, minimum pay, laws to protect people at work
how RELEVANT is social class today in shaping a person’s identity?
- now many other sources of identity
- some argue the lines between diff. social classes are becoming more blurred and less relevant
people have the ability to CHANGE their class position
- Marx argued that there was little/no social mobility within capitalism
feminists claim that marxists IGNORE the oppression of WOMEN
in what 3 ways to Marxists view culture?
feudal societies
capitalism
socialism / communism
feudal societies
based on a HIERARCHY
- of peasants, serfs and kings, nobility
- little social mobility
