marxism key people

Question 1

marx

marx

Answer 1

1. says the bourgeoisie control the economy and exploit the proletariat
2. suggests class consciousness meaning the proletariat develop their own interests and become conscious that they need to overthrow capitalism
3. says that the economy is the most important part of society and that all other parts of society are based on the economy

Question 2

what did marx say the most important aspect of society is?

Answer 2

the economy

Question 3

what are the two classes marx identified?

Answer 3

the bourgeoisie and the proletariat

Question 4

what is class consciousness according to Marx?

Answer 4

when the proletariat develop their own interests and become conscious that they need to overthrow capitalism

Question 5

what does Marx say the ideal society would be?

Answer 5

where individuals organised themselves into groups and used their labour power to meet their own needs

Question 6

Gramsci

Answer 6

1. says the ruling class keep their power through coercion and concent
2. states ruling class hegemony is never complete because the ruling class are a minority compared to lower class

Question 7

according to Gramsci what two ways allow the ruling class to keep their power?

Answer 7

1. Coercion = the police, army prisons and courts of the capitalist state force other classes to accept its rule
2. Consent = the ruling class use ideas and values to persuade the subordinate classes that their rule is legitimate

Question 8

according to Gramsci how does coercion allow the ruling class to keep their power?

Answer 8

coercion - the police, army prisons and courts of the capitalist state force other classes to accept its rule

Question 9

according to Gramsci how does consent allow the ruling class to keep their power?

Answer 9

consent - the ruling class use ideas and values to persuade the subordinate classes that their rule is legitimate

Question 10

according to Gramsci why is the ruling class hegemony never complete?

Answer 10

the ruling class hegemony is never complete because the ruling class is a minority compared to the lower class

Question 11

what does Gramsci reject as an explantation of change?

Answer 11

Gramsci rejects economic determinism as an explanation of change

Question 12

Engels

Answer 12

1. individualls have capacity to break free from false class consciousness despite literature ect reflecting upper class
2. says nuclear family formed as a result of capitalism and functions to benefit capitalism
3. capitalism creates and maintains class struggles between the bourgeoisie and proletariat

Question 13

what does Engels argue individuals have the capacity to break free from?

Answer 13

individuals have the capacity to break free from false class consciousness

Question 14

what does breaking free from false class consciousness allow individuals to see?

Answer 14

allows individuals to see/percieve social injustice

Question 15

what does Engels believe capitalism created/maintained?

Answer 15

Engels believed capitalism created and maintained class struggles between the proletariat and bourgeoisie

Question 16

what did Engels say about the family in relation to capitalism?

Answer 16

said that the family formed as a direct result of capitalism as that the family functions to benefit capitalism by keeping the wealth in the hands of the bourgeoisie

Question 17

neo-marxism

Answer 17

They believe in relative autonomy = degree of freedom to act within the dominant ideology eg in school you are free to do whatever as long as it fits in with the school rules

Question 18

why is relative autonomy a good neo-marxist approach?

Answer 18

relative autonomy is a less deterministic approach and suggests that your background/class does not determine your life

Question 19

what do marxists belive the fundamental problem with capitalism is?

Answer 19

the fundamental problem with capitalism according to marxists is that it causes alienation