Marxism In Theory Flashcards
What is Marxism
Marxism is a conflict theory it suggests that there is a conflict between the ruling class and the subject class
What do marxists say happens in societs
They say we live in a capitalist society where the ruling class always exploits the subject class
How is this seen in society (exploitation)
It is seen in the workforce where workers are forced to work for minimum wages in order for the ruling class to maximize profits
How does the ruling class instill this ideology in the working class
In education children are taught to obey authority figures which maybe used in the workforce they are also through the hidden curriculum to avoid revolution (Bowles - gintis)
What does Karl Marx say
The bourgeois have economic control over the poloretariat
What is the superstructure
The social cultural and political structure of society
what did antonio gramsci say
the ruling class maintains dominance through hegemony
what is hegemony that gramsci talks about
the dominant position of a particular set of ideas middle class has dominant values in society
how does the ruling class create hegemony according to Gramsci
he does this through political and moral beliefs passed down through social institutions to justify class dominance - ideas such as the ruling class are more educated in society so they should run and control things such as the government
what is dual class consciousness
when somone holds two conflicting understanding of their social class at the same time
explain dual class consciousness
individuals are aware they are being exploited in society but at the same time they still hold beliefs or accept the system
what does louis Althusser believe
he believes the ruling class uses different ways in order to control the population this is the working class heavily out number the rulling class
how does louis Althusser believe the ruling class control the working class
the ruling class does this by introducing structural methods of control things such as family and education to oppress/control the working class
what is ideological state apparatus
this controls the way in which individuals think meaning they are less likely to challenge the ruling class subtle way of using social institutions in order to control the way people think education - myth of meritocracy
what is the role of thge ideological state apparatus
it is to make people conform to the ideology the ruling class set out
what is the repressive state apparatus
this is the controls force that do not conform to the ideology such as the police and the legal system
what are some critisims of marxism
people are not cultural dopes but are aware of the expliotation in society
