Marxism Introduction Flashcards
Who was Karl Marx?
Karl Marx (1818-1883) was a philosopher and economist known for his theories on society and economics.
In which century did Karl Marx live?
Karl Marx lived in the middle of the 19th century.
What was a key focus of Marx’s theories?
Marx’s theories stem from an analysis of European societies 150 years ago.
What did Marx observe during his travels through Europe?
Marx observed much poverty and inequality.
What did Marx attribute poverty and inequality to?
Marx attributed poverty and inequality to unequal access to resources and ownership of property and wealth.
Who did Marx argue was being exploited?
Marx argued that the working class (proletariat) was being exploited by the ruling class (bourgeoisie).
Fill in the blank: Marx argued that the _______ was being exploited by the ruling class.
proletariat
Fill in the blank: The ruling class is referred to as the _______.
bourgeoisie
True or False: Marx believed that poverty was solely a result of individual failings.
False
Who are the Bourgeoisie?
The Bourgeoisie or the Capitalist class are the ones who own and control the wealth of a country
What do the Bourgeoisie control in society?
The productive forces in society, including land, factories, and machines
What is the economic base according to Marx?
The economic base consists of the productive forces in society
What is the role of the Proletariat?
The Proletariat can only gain a living by selling their labour power to the bourgeoisie for a price
Fill in the blank: The Bourgeoisie control the _______ forces in society.
[productive]
According to Hochschild, what types of labor can the Proletariat sell?
Physical products or emotional labour
True or False: The Bourgeoisie are the majority in society.
False
What are the components of the economic base?
- Land
- Factories
- Machines
Fill in the blank: The Bourgeoisie are associated with the _______ class.
[Capitalist]
What is the primary means for the Proletariat to earn a living?
Selling their labour power
What is the relationship between the bourgeois and the proletariat?
Exploitative
How do the bourgeois increase their wealth?
By exploiting the proletariat
What is surplus value?
The difference between the wages paid to workers and the market price of what they produce
Who extracts surplus value from the worker according to Marx?
The capitalist
What does Marx believe about profit in capitalist society?
Profit is basically the accumulated exploitation of workers
Fill in the blank: The amount of money the capitalist pays his workers is always _______ the current selling price of what they have produced.
below
What is the relationship between the Economic Base and Superstructure according to Marx?
Those who control the Economic Base also control the Superstructure.
What does the Economic Base consist of?
The Mode of Production, including forces of production and social relations of production.
What is meant by ‘Superstructure’ in Marxist theory?
All other institutions such as the legal system, mass media, family, education, etc.
Fill in the blank: The Economic Base is also referred to as the _______.
Mode of Production
True or False: The Superstructure includes economic institutions.
False
What are the components that make up the Mode of Production?
Forces of production and social relations of production.
According to Marx, who has political power in society?
Those who have wealth or economic power.
List three examples of institutions that are part of the Superstructure.
- Legal system
- Mass media
- Education
What is a criticism of Marx’s concept of social class?
It is considered too simplistic; there are several social classes today
Many people do not identify with others in their social class.
What has been proved wrong regarding Marx’s predictions?
The predictions about capitalism ending and the inevitable success of communism
This was notably demonstrated by the collapse of communism.
How has capitalism changed since Marx’s time?
It appears to work for more people and is less exploitative
This change may explain why capitalism continues to thrive.
What aspect of inequality does Marx completely ignore?
Gender inequality
This oversight leads to a lack of consideration for the oppression of women.
