Marxism Flashcards
What do Marxists and Neo-Marxists believe regarding inequality?
Marxists believe that the relationship between the classes is exploitative, with the ruling class (bourgeoisie) exploiting the workers (the proleteriat).
Neo-Marxist theories developed from Marxism to look at other forms of inequality otherthan economic. They attempt to explain inequality and why people tolerate it by looking at power and Ideology.
Karl Marx- Capitalism
Capitalist society is organised to benefit the wealthy at the expense of the poor, who experience inequality. The Proletariat must sell their labour to survive and eventually this will cause the workers to revolt and overthrow capitalism.
Althusser
Althusser explains that social inequality is experienced by the working classes and they are ideologically controlled by the state. The state controls education and the media and uses these agents of socialisation to train individuals to think uncritically of capitalism and therefore they do not rebel against their inequality in society.
Hall et al
Hall was a member of the CCCS and claimed that as a result of capitalism, ethnic minorities experience inequality. He researched young black muggers in the 1970s and claims that the extensive media attention was as a result of the state’s desire to scapegoat then and detract public attention from the failures of the government, resulting in the public’s perception of black men changing, and they experienced social inequality.
Marx Evaluation
1) Capitalism- the fact that inequality exists in most communist societies shows that capitalism alone cannot be the cause of inequality as Marx argued. His views were however, clearly influential as many countries such as Russia changed to communist.
2) Communist societies often fail, indicating that many people prefer living in a capitalist society. This theory is outdated- first mentioned in 1847 book. Although the existence of zero-hour contracts today could illustrate that the concept of the Reserve Army of Labour still occurs.
Althusser Evaluation
Not everyone is controlled, Althusser assumes that everybody believes messages from the state. Also provides little evidence- his theory cannot be measured.
Although is an explanation as to why people tolerate inequality- why Marx’s predicted workers’ protest has not occurred.
Hall et al Evaluation
Neo-Marxist theories are often regarded as conspiracy theories that imply that the state is out to control everyone.
Can be viewed as still relevant with the way that immigrants have continuously been blamed for wider social issues, for example Brexit
Karl Marx- Reserve Army of Labour
To explain social inequality, Karl Marx developed the theory of the Reserve Army of Labour put forward by the Engles. Marx believed that the reserve army was a vital tool that helped capitalism by exploiting low socioeconomic groups. During a trade boom, capitalism requires more workers, but this is temporary and workers are laid off during recessions, with the workers’ welfare ignored.
