marxism

Question 1

what are the causes of inequality? Marx

Answer 1

-society is organised to benefit the wealthy not the workers
-bourgeoise own ‘the means of production’/ ‘substructure of society

-wc people have to sell their skills to survive

Question 2

what is surplus value? marx

Answer 2

people are paid only a fraction of the value of their labour

Question 3

what is the superstructure? Marx

Answer 3

Bourgeoise control the government,beliefs and ideologies

Question 4

what is a false consciousness? marx

Answer 4

wc people are tricked by ideology to think the RC have their best interests but are actually using them

Question 5

What is the reserve army of labour? Engles

Answer 5

-during a peak in capitalism the jobs are in high demand and companies need staff

-during economic slumps,the need for workers decreases and workers are laid off in order to keep up with profits

-creates a system where people can’t ask for higher wages as someone will always do it for less

Question 6

Evaluation of marx

Answer 6

x-marx’s prediction of a revolution never happened

x-marxists assume all inequality is class inequality this is criticised by feminists and race theorists

X-contradictory-the WC are unaware but will revolt

x-many communist societies have failed

+-reserve army of labour is still relevent today e.g zero hours contracts

Question 7

How is the ruling class able to exert control? Gramsci

Answer 7

Ideological illusions

Question 8

what is hegemony? Gramsci

Answer 8

a means of class domination by persuading people the ruling classes ideas are just common sense

Question 9

How is hegemony affective? Gramsci

Answer 9

-its an invisible mechanism that permeates through society

-ideas are unquestioned and become normalised through constant exposure

-ruling class controls agencies i.e the media

Question 10

How does Gramsci disagree with Marx?

Answer 10

-hegemony is never complete:

-the ruling class are a minority and need to make ideological compromises with the middle class

-the proletariat have dual-consciousness

-theres a chance of ruling class being undermiend if Wc can form a credible alternative society

Question 11

What is the infrastructure? althusser

Answer 11

the land,factories and means of generating wealth

Question 12

what is the superstructure? althusser

Answer 12

the major institutions in society e.g edcuation,media,law and politics

Question 13

what is the function of the superstructure? althusser

Answer 13

-reproduces and legitimises inequalites found in the infrastructure

-transmits ruling class ideology

Question 14

evaluations for althusser

Answer 14

x-how do marxist know the truth thst nobody else does

x-althusser dismisses what working class people say about their own situation

+-althussers claim on the superstructure has evidence social mobility comission found that only 16%of students on fsm achieve 2 a levels compared to 39% of nsfm

Question 15

What is the inequality minority ethnic groups face a result of? Castles and kosack

Answer 15

-being exploited as the working class
-racism and racial inequality are deliberately encouraged by the capitalist class

Question 16

What is legitimisation? Castles and Kosack

Answer 16

Racism justifies low pay and poor working conditions

Capitalists benefit from cheap labour from ethnic minorities

Question 17

Why does the capitalist class divide and rule? Castles and Kosack

Answer 17

-if the black and white WC unite they are in a stronger position to ask for better wages and conditions

Question 18

What is the reserve army of labour? Castles and Kosack

Answer 18

-ethnic minority workers are used as a reserve army of labour to prevent white workers demanding higher wages

Question 19

What is scapegoating? Castles and Kosack

Answer 19

-during social and economic problems
-widespread anger is directed towards ethnic minorities rather than the capitalist class
-links to hall et al

Question 20

Evaluation of castles and Kosack

Answer 20

X- Miles (1989) many black people recognise the significance of their ethnicity in causing inequality

X-miles some ethnic minorities are MC,so their interests align with capitalism however their ethnicity makes it harder for them to be full accepted

Question 21

What is correspondence theory? Bowles and Gintis

Answer 21

School corresponds to the world of work

Question 22

What is success determined by? Bowles and Gintis

Answer 22

-conformity and fitting into the system
-this is why MC achieve more