MARXISM & WEBERIAN

Question 1

What do marxists argue that immigration serves?

Answer 1

The needs of the capitalist class for labour.

Question 2

Why does capitalism prefer conflict according to marxists?

Answer 2

Prefer conflict between ethnic groups as it is beneficial to the ruling class.

Question 3

Where does racism have its origins according to marxist Cox?

Answer 3

In the development of capitalism, with its need to systematically exploit labour power.

Question 4

What did marxist Cox argue racism is developed to do?

Answer 4

To justify exploitation, it cannot be developed by those who are exploited.

Question 5

How is Cox criticised?

Answer 5

Critics would argue his views are too simplistic.

It is difficult to prove that racism is a capitalist ideology.

Question 6

What has Cox’s theory been labelled as?

Answer 6

‘Race blind’.

Question 7

According to marxists Castles and Kosack, where were most immigrants concentrated in the workforce?

Answer 7

In low-skilled and low-paid manual jobs that were mainly carried out in poor working conditions.

Question 8

Where does the poor treatment of immigrants derive from according to marxists Castles and Kosack?

Answer 8

The need in a capitalist society for a reserve army of labour; it was necessary to have a surplus of labour power in order to keep wage costs down.

Question 9

Why did countries in Europe turn to immigrants to provide labour according to Castles and Kosack?

Answer 9

To provide a necessary cheap pool of workers who could be profitably exploited.

Question 10

What do Castles and Kosack mean by ‘divide-and-rule’ tactic?

Answer 10

Was beneficial to the ruling class as it suppressed the overall wage levels of working classes and immigrants could be scapegoated.

Question 11

How can statistics from the governments employment figures support Castles and Kosacks statement?

Answer 11

83% of white people were employed, whereas it was just 56% for Bangladeshi and Pakistani ethnic groups.

Question 12

How can Castles and Kosacks be criticised?

Answer 12

It would be a mistake to assume that all ethnic minorities are disadvantaged in the UK. For example, there are currently over 5,000 Muslim millionaires in Britain.

Question 13

What did marxist Miles argue about the origins of racism?

Answer 13

Racism was originally used to justify the exploitation of non-Europeans in various parts of the world.

Question 14

What does Miles argue racism was about by the end of colonialism?

Answer 14

The type of racism that saw different types of biological grouping as superior or inferior to others was replaced with nationalism.

Question 15

What does Miles argue about race in relation to class?

Answer 15

Many of the white working-class may not perceive middle-class ethnic minorities as having higher status compared to themselves.

Question 16

How is Miles criticised?

Answer 16

He downplays the possible cooperation between both groups in trade union movements, where people work together to ensure their rights as workers.

Question 17

How did Weber define class?

Answer 17

In terms of market and work situations.

Question 18

What does Weber argue about white British people’s work and market situations?

Answer 18

More likely to have a superior market and work situation compared to ethnic minors, which equates to white British people having superior life chances.

Question 19

What did Weber believe modern societies are also characterised by?

Answer 19

Status inequality.

Question 20

What does Weber mean by status inequality in relation to ‘social closure’?

Answer 20

Means that some status groups try to monopolise privilege and exclude other groups from their positions of privilege.

Question 21

How is the Weberian theory criticised?

Answer 21

Still does not provide any way to distinguish between the relative importance of the different types of inequality.

Question 22

What do weberian Barron and Norris demonstrate in their dual labour market theory?

Answer 22

Demonstrates how racial prejudice and discrimination can be seen in the distribution of ethnic minorities in the work force.

Question 23

Which section of the labour market were ethnic minorities more highly concentrated according to Barron and Norris?

Answer 23

Secondary labour market due to their lower cultural status.

Question 24

What does Barron and Norris’ theory show about the existence of status groups?

Answer 24

Not purely economic, the existence of status groups based on ethnicity shows that stratification can also occur on the basis of cultural factors.

Question 25

What does Barron and Norris’ theory show about the Race Relations Act of 1976?

Answer 25

Supposed to protect Black people from discriminatory practices but has not worked as effectively as it could have.

Question 26

How can Barron and Norris be criticised?

Answer 26

Ignore the fact that there are some ethnic minorities in crucial primary labour market positions. The current richest person in the UK is from an ethnic minority background.