Marxism and Critical Theory Flashcards
What is the purpose of this approach?
To reveal, critique, and challenge power structures. Based on the idea that if we can understand systems of domination and subordination, then they can be changed.
What is Critical Theory based upon?
Marxism and Hegelian philosophy
Problem solving element of critical theory
Focuses on correcting certain dysfunctions as they present themselves
What does critical theory question?
The structural conditions that were taken for granted and what bought this problem about.
What does critical theory look at?
Historical foundations behind structural conditions. Makes contingent world orders. Bc political and structural conditions have history and context. Highlight spatial and temporal dimensions of power.
Historical Materialism
History of materialism = the history of the political economy
Thinking of linkages between materiality, economics, production and social forces.
What are the three laws of dialectical materialism?
- Unity and conflict of opposites
- Transition of quality and quantity
- The negation of negation
Rise of Capitalism
- Alienation from the produce of human labour
- Alienation from the process of labour
- Alienation from species
- Alienation from nature
Consequence of capitalism
Reification: an extreme form of alienation, humans seen as objects. State exists to organise capital.
What does reification cause?
Omnipresent otherness, commodified discourse, time and space shaping models of oppression, capital moving through space.
Resistance from the proletariat
Class, like all identities, is fluid and contextual. Collective identities are also forged in physical, material and social environments.
Antonio Gramsci: Hegemony
Class is a body of shared interest which can also be expressed as a practice or status outside of materiality. Hegemony is a class relationship: one class so dominant that its interests are normalised through institutions and cultural practices.
What is hegemony?
A “synthesis of consent and coercion” w/in a hegemonic regime, coercion embedded w/in consent in a manner that when coercive measures are deployed, they are grounded in consent.
Bourdieu: symbolic violence
Discursive normalisation and naturalisation of one class’ interests over another
Counter hegemony: war of position
Use persuasion or propaganda to increase number of political actors who oppose or see an alternative to the hegemonic position or discourse.
Counter-Hegemony: war of movement
Once counter hegemonic elements are sufficiently strong to directly challenge position of historic bloc, can overthrow through force.
Colonialism
Colonialism is the practice, theory and attitude of dominant centre ruling a distant territory. Justification of domination expressed through the attitudes of naturalness of the dominating centre.
Imperialism
Asymmetrical flows of capital
- Domestically in favour of the bourgeoise
- Internationally, towards the metropole and away from the colony.
What is Wallerstein’s World System Theory?
Unequal economic and political relationships in which some industrialized nations and their global corporations dominate the world’s economic system.
What are the benefits of core exploitation?
Access to raw material
Export market
Cheap labour
Migration from non-core to core
