Marxism - Theories

Question 1

What was Marx’s overriding view?

Answer 1

That the economy is the driving force in society

Question 2

What is the Infrastructure?

Answer 2

Economic base that underpins society, e.g. means of production

Question 3

What is the Superstructure?

Answer 3

Social institutions = determined by infrastructure

Question 4

What are the 2 classes?

Answer 4

Owners (Capitalists) + non-owners (workers)

Bourgeoise + Proletariat

Question 5

What are the stages of a society before Capitalism?

Answer 5

Slavery, feudalism, capitalism, communism

Question 6

What are the characterises of workers?

Answer 6

Want higher wages to achieve a better life style

Question 7

What are the characterises of owners?

Answer 7

High profits to expand wealth, business and compete

Question 8

Why is there class conflict?

Answer 8

Interest of 2 classes completely opposed

Question 9

How are workers exploited?

Answer 9

Workers produce more than whats needed = surplus values which provides profit for the employer while the workers are paid very little
= allows wages and production costs to be covered

Question 10

What 3 ways are there dominate ideology in society?

Answer 10

• Law protecting the interests of owning class
• Religion = ‘opium of the people’ - workers accept position
• Media owned by r/c = only their ideas put forward

Question 11

What is False Consciousness?

Answer 11

Lack of awareness for own interests

Question 12

What will happen when W/C develop a class consciousness?

Answer 12

They will become aware of their position
= population polarised into 2
- Workers act against owners through strikes and demonstrations = revolution to overthrow bourgeoises
- leads to communism

Question 13

What does Engles suggest about the family?

Answer 13

Monogamous family ensures wealth is passed on

- women provides sex + heirs in return for economic security

Question 14

What does Zaretsky suggest about the family?

Answer 14

Family perpetuates Capitalism in 2 ways:

1) Reproduction of workforce
2) Consumes products of capitalism

Question 15

What is the overriding view of the family?

Answer 15

It is not functionally necessary

Question 16

What do Bowels and Gintis suggest about education?

Answer 16

Correspondence principle between school and work in power hierarchies

Question 17

What does Willis suggest about education?

Answer 17

‘Learning to labour’ - criticised correspondence principle + suggest w/c prepare themselves for w/c jobs

Question 18

What does Althusser suggest about education?

Answer 18

Education part of ideological state apparatus (ISA)

Question 19

What does Pearce suggest about crime?

Answer 19

Laws are made by those in power and although they appear to benefit the working class they actually benefit the ruling lass e.g. health and safety laws

Question 20

What does Chambliss suggests about crime?

Answer 20

Capitalism generates feelings of greed and self-interest, people are trying to achieve what they cannot through accepted means

Question 21

What does Sinder suggest about crime?

Answer 21

Corporate crime costs more than w/c crime but tends to remain undetected

Question 22

How does Marxism relate to beliefs?

Answer 22

• Marx: ‘religion is the opium of the people
• Religion used by proletariat to cushion oppression + by Bourgeoise to control the masses
• Religion transmits dominate ideology which justifies and normalises inequality - stops proletariat questioning their position

Question 23

What are 4 strengths of Marxism?

Answer 23

1) Encourages us to explore the underlying economic basis of society + how this determines the nature of social institutions
2) Points to social structures in influencing the way we think and behave
3) Helps to explain inequality in society and that different groups have different interests
4) Explores society critically, suspend our taken for granted assumptions

Question 24

What are 4 weaknesses of Marxism?

Answer 24

1) Functionalists: Marxism over-emphasises the conflict in society. Society is characterised by stability and shared values.
2) Interactionists: individuals are not simply passive victims of society. They are thinking active beings who have choice and give meaning to the world
3) Ignores other key variables such as gender, ethnicity, age
4) Accused of being economic deterministic

Question 25

What does Gramsci suggest?

Answer 25

• There is relative autonomy from economic base

- Stability of capitalist system due to hegemony - ideological dominance

Question 26

What does Althusser suggest?

Answer 26

There are 3 levels in society not 2:
- Economic
- Political
- Ideological (ISA)
each level has relative autonomy + some independence from economic base

Question 27

What is some evaluation of Neo-Marxism?

Answer 27

• Overcome criticism of economic determinism but are critisiced for underplaying the importance of the economy
• Marx DID recognise the importance of ideology