Marxism Flashcards
What is historical materialism
humans have material needs and need to work to meet these
the tools to gain this have developed overtime
this creates two classes and the economic base determined their behaviours
What is the definition of Marxism
A macro conflict theory where the proletariat are exploted by the bourgeoise for surplus value
What is ideology
The class that owns the means of production also owns and controls the dominant ideology
produces and spreads through media and religion to legitimise the social order
What is alientation
workers are separated from the proudct they create
they are also separate from their creative nature
What is class conciousness
polarising classses, bringing down wages creates the condition which the working class can develop concioousness of its own position in opposition to its exploiters
What is hegemony
dominant ideology - maintained through ideas and values to persuade the suboridinate class
How does the ruling class keep their power according to Gramsci
by making alliances with the middle class to create a power bloc
What are organic intellectuals and what are their jobs
leaders of the revolution who will spread a counter hegemony to win ideological leadership from the ruling class
What are the three parts of Althussers superstructure
economic level - means of production
political level - all forms of organisation
ideological - ways that people see themselves
What is the Althussers two state apparatus
repressive - armed bodies of men that use force and fear to get people to comply
ideologically - manipulate the w.c into accepting as legitiamate
What do Althusser believe about free will
we are not free agents we are products of social structures that determine everything about us
What are the criticisms of Marx
economic determinism - humans have free will and can change through their actions
one dimensional view of inequality - gender is also important (feminist) - Weber argues status and power divides as well
class polarisation has not occured
Marx’s prediction for revolution has not come true
What are the critcisms of Gramsci
Willis (1977) describes the w.c as partially penterating bourgeois ideology
critcised for being too optimistic by Althusser
What are the criticisms of Althusser
Postmodernists reject science being used to imporve society as it creates a metanarrative
Craib - Althusser offers the most sophisticated conception of social structure
