Marxism Flashcards
Marxism
Modernist theory that proletariat oppressed by bourgeoisie
What does the infrastructure consist of?
Means of production
Relations of production
Strengths
Recognizes importance of economy and how economic change can influence
Private ownership explains extreme social inequalities
Shows importance of social structure
Highly influential theory
Weakness
Hasn’t come true- higher living standards than ever
Overemphasises conflict
Overemphasises social class as source of conflict
Superstructure model too deterministic
Tries to explain everything from single perspective
Gramsci
Neo-marxist
Faulted marx in over-riding importance of economy
Placed more emphasis on role of ideas and how peoples ideas underpinned actions they choose to make. Hegemony.
Hegemony
Dominance in society of ruling class set of ideas and acceptance of and consent by rest of society
What three levels did althusser argue there were to superstructure?
Economic level
Political level
Ideological level
Evaluation of neo-marxism
Gramsci recognizes importance of peoples ideas and actions
Underplay importance of economy
Gramsci- overemphasising role of ideas & under-emphasising role of material factors
Humanistic marxism
Draws on alienation and subjective experience
Links to positive sociology
Gramsci
Structuralist Marxism
Links to positivist sociology
Structures that bring about change
Althusser
Rejects economic determinism and humanism
Private ownership and social classes
Marx argued work labour is sole source of wealth. Used to be people worked enough to survive but now more being produced became possible for part of society to not work and be supported by labour of others. Society split into two fundamental social classes- owners and non-owners of means of production.
Exploitation
Workers produce more than is needed for employers to pay for wages and produces what marx calls SURPLUS VALUE and provides profit for employer= workers who produce don’t get full value of work so being exploited
Class conflict
Exploitation of non-owners by owners created major differences in interests between classes and created conflict. Workers on low wage work more and harder to earn more creating conflict in all areas of life.
Labour power
Refers to peoples capacity to work. In capitalist societies people sell labour power to employers in return for a wage, and employers only buy labour power and not whole person.
