marxism Flashcards
What is the difference between a conflict and structuralist theory?
Conflict- view society as filled with tensions and conflicts that arise when resources are unevenly distributed between groups in society
Structuralist- interested in how society is structured or socially organised
What is the difference between the bourgeoisie and proletariat?
-Bourgeoise- MC, own properties in society, maintains power through control of relations and means of production, the ruling class
-Proletariat- WC, employed and exploited by bourgeioisie, suffer from false class consciousness, revolution in the future, little wealth
What is false class consciousness?
The proletariat do not recognise that they’re being exploited by the bourgeoisie, therefore contribute to their own exploitation
How is society’s structure divided?
Infrastructure
Superstructure
What is the difference between the means and relations of production?
Means=Facilities and resources for producing goods
Relations=Social structures that regulate the relation between owners and workers
What is superstructure?
Social institutions that spreads the ruling class ideology e.g. education
This is achieved by justifying class inequality persuading them that the capitalist system is fair
This can be split into the means of production and relations of production
What is infrastructure?
The relationship between the proletariat (workers that provide the labour) and bourgeoisie (own and control the means of production)
This relationship is unequal, exploitative because of the gap in wages> conflict
What are the 6 characteristics of a capitalist society
Social classes
Class conflict
Dominant ideology
Exploitation
False class consciousness
Revolution
What is class conflict?
Exploitation by owners created major differences in interests between the 2 classes
Proletariat wants higher wages -expense of bosses profits
Bourgeoise wants higher profits -at the expense of workers wages
What is dominant ideology?
Any dominant ideas in any society were those of the owning class
Major institutions in the superstructure of society reflected those of the bourgeoise
What is exploitation?
Workers producing more than what is needed for employees, this extra work is aka surplus value, providing profit for the owner
Workers do not get the full value of their work
What is revolution?
One day workers will become aware of their exploitation and develop a class consciousness
Society will become polarised and the classes will be hostile
A communist society would be created, with no exploitation
How would functionalists, feminists, and postmodernists oppose the marxists?
Functionalist- Consensus is the main feature of society
Feminist- Conflict is the main feature of society, but conflict between the genders
Postmodernist- Metanarratives like class are no longer relative as we have ‘pick n mix’ identities, where we can adopt aspects of either class
How does marxism lack temporal validity?
We no longer have just 2 classes, class can now be fluid
How is marxism value laden (researcher being weighed down by their values) ?
Doesn’t consider the struggles of the bourgeoisie e.g. pressure of being successful
Only looks to benefit the proletariat
How has marxism lost credibility?
There hasn’t been a revolution yet, predictions haven’t yet come true
How is marxism economically deterministic?
Marxism states that economic factors is the sole cause for changes in society, this isn’t true
You can overcome your economic status e.g. achieving in education and getting a good job
