Marxism (Marx ideas)

Question 1

Define materialism

Answer 1

view that humans are individuals with needs - and in order to do this use the focus ‘means’ of production.

Question 2

Define the base

Answer 2

is the means of production ( all that you need to produce)

Question 3

Define the superstructure

Answer 3

Institutions

Question 4

According to Marx how do the base and supserstructure interrelated?

Answer 4

This base influences everything else in society ( superstructure) - institutions.

So the superstructure of institutions → behaviour ideas and beliefs all are influenced by this base → superstructure maintains the base

Question 5

What does Marx view about class society in the past?

Answer 5

‘Primitive communism’- early society with no class, shared means of production, no exploitation

Question 6

State the three classes Marx identified

Answer 6

• Ancient society
  Based on exploitation of slaves legally tied to owners
• Feudal society
  Based on exploitation of serfs legally tied to the lan
• Capitalist society
  Based on exploitation of free wage labourers - proletariat

Question 7

What does Marx argue a class society is ?

Answer 7

In class society → means of production are owned by one class :
* Allows for exploitation for own benefit
* Control surplus product ( difference between what labourers produce and what is needed to keep them alive and meet the needs)

Question 8

what are the three features of capitalism?

Answer 8

1. proleariat legally free + separate from means of production
2. competition between capitalists
3. expands production in orce of profit

Question 9

proleariat legally free + separate from means of production

Answer 9

• they do not own any means so have to sell labour in return of wages to be able to survive
• not = exchange → WCmonly earn enough to live not the value of their labour ( bare minimum)
  Surplus value → the profit capitalist make for selling the commodities produced

Question 10

define the term surplus value

Answer 10

the profit capitalist make for selling the commodities produced

Question 11

Competition between capitalists

Answer 11

ownership of means of production is concentrated

• This competition forces independent companies into the proletariat until are WC
• Forces capitalists to pay lowest wages - impoverishment of WC

Question 12

Expands production in sources of profit

Answer 12

Production in large units / tech devaluing workers → class polarisation ( dividing society into capialist and working class)

Question 13

How does RC maintain control of ideology?

Answer 13

Through mental means of production
* (form of ideological state apparatus) → ruling class own the production of ideas / beliefs

• Social institutions → media,education,religion all serve this
• Dominant ideas created by RC thus legitimise the existing social order as inevitable

Question 14

Define what is meant by alienation

Answer 14

Is the result of loss of control over our labour its products - so a separation from this ‘nature’
Marx believed that our true nature is based on capacity to meet our needs ^^

Question 15

how does alienation occur within capitalism

Answer 15

as RC control for own needs but it exists in capitalism because:

• Workers are completely separate from forces of production
• The division is most intense - worker is reduced to unskilled mindless repeating tasks

Workers made products they weren’t able to afford → benefitted the ruling class

Question 16

What does Marx believe the revolution will bring:

Answer 16

• Abolish state = classless communist society
• Abolish exploitation / private ownership = social ownership with production to satisfy needs
• End alienation - regain of control of labour

He expected the revolution to first occur in most advanced capitalist societies + with ultimate victory with establishment of global communist society

Question 17

Marx evaluation

Answer 17

• Simplistic - weber argues status and power differences can also be important sources of inequality separate from class / feminists argue gender is a factor → reductionist / class bias - ignores impact of patriarchy and racism
• Simplistic two class model → Weber sub divides proletariat into skilled and unskilled classes - white -collar mc office workers + petty bourgeoisie (small capitalists) - a middle class occurs
• Class polarisation not occured →MC has grown rather than overwhelmed by WC → WC shrunk in western societies but proletariat still ^ in India and China due to globalisation
• Economic determinism - base / superstructure criticised
  The view economic factors ar sole case of everhign in society → vies that it fails to recognise the ‘free will’ of humans that can bring about change through actions
• The prediction of revolution have not come true - only happened in economically backward countries (not most advance) → such as Russia 1917