Marxist Theories of Society

Question 1

What are the 5 theories within traditional marxism?

Answer 1

• capitalism
• rulling class ideology
• false class consciousness
• exploitation and alienation
• revolution

Question 2

What two interrelated parts do marxists see as part of capitalism?

Answer 2

The Infrastructure

The Superstructure

Question 3

What is the infrastructure according to Marxists?

Answer 3

The infrastructure is the economic system. This is dominated by the rich bourgeoisie who own the means of production. For this system to work, they need the labour power provided by the proletariat. This relation is unequal as the ruling class have power over wage levels and working conditions

Question 4

What is the superstructure according to marxists?

Answer 4

Social institutions which influence the working class. This includes: family, education the media ect.

Question 5

What are the 3 main purposes of the superstructure?

Answer 5

• to reproduce inequalities
• justify inequality
• hide inequality

Question 6

How do social institutions reproduce inequality?

Answer 6

By ensuring only the middle classes get the best jobs

Question 7

How do social institutions justify inequality?

Answer 7

By transmitting ruling class ideology, capatalism is a meritocratic system

Question 8

How do social institutions hide inequality?

Answer 8

By providing free education and the NHS to bring about false class consciousness

Question 9

Evaluate the capitalism theory brought about by marxists

Answer 9

Specialised division of labour is meritocratic 
Action theorists debate the nature of class is far more complex than two groups

Question 10

According to marxists, what is the ruling class ideology?

Answer 10

The ruling class ideology is a set of ideas that benefit the wealthy.

Question 11

Give an example of ruling class ideology?

Answer 11

Parents encourage their children to take part in the specialsied division of labour, they must work hard to earn money. 
Schools also create the idea that capitalism is a meritocratic system. If people are intelligent they will succeed, if they don't work hard they will end up as working class parents

Question 12

What does the ruling class ideology lead to according to marxists?

Answer 12

If people accept the ruling class ideology to be true, then they will never challenge such ideas leaving the ruling class able to retain their vast amount of wealth

Question 13

Evaluate the ruling class ideology theory brought about by marxists

Answer 13

Action theorists would argue it is too deterministic, it creates the impression the working class are mindless puppets they don’t do anything

Question 14

What is false class consciousness? (false class consciousness theory)

Answer 14

In order for capitalism to survive, a divide must be maintained between the class groups. Working class people fail to recognise that they are being exploited

Question 15

What is the main source of false class consciousness? (false class consciousness theory)

Answer 15

Peoples socialisation. There are distinct behavioural differences between social classes. For example, the working class are taught to enjoy football which distracts them from the exploitation of capitalism

Question 16

How does the media help false class consciousness? (false class consciousness theory)

Answer 16

People are encouraged to blame others in a similar position for social problems. For example, the media heavily reports on migration which is a worse off group in society, they blame migrants for overpopulation ect. This turns the working class against each other which means they fail to acknowledge their shared experience of exploitation.

Question 17

How does the state help false class consiousness? (false class consciousness theory)

Answer 17

The state provides free healthcare and education which tricks the working class into thinking capitalism cares about them

Question 18

Evaluation of false class consciousness?

Answer 18

Neo marxists argue people live in a state of dual class consciousness. Whereby people know they’re being exploited but accept it for normal

Question 19

Explain marxists exploitation theory? (exploitation and alienation)

Answer 19

Marx believed that in a capitalist society people are routinely exploited. The bourgeoise dominate wealth because they exploit the ‘surplus value’ of peoples labour

Question 20

What is surplus value? (exploitation and alienation)

Answer 20

The difference between the value of labour and what the workers receive

Question 21

Give evidence of wealth inequality? (exploitation and alienation)

Answer 21

In 2016, the richest 1% in society owned as much as the poorest 55%. This demonstrates how the very few are making money off the masses. The working class are likely to accept this as they are dependant on the wage they receive

Question 22

How are workers alienated? (exploitation and alienation)

Answer 22

Workers are alienated in the work place. Meaning they have no control or say as to what happens in them in their working lives. e.g work hours and conditions. The proletariat are powerless to challenge this as they are disposable, they are easily replaced by workers wanting a cheaper wage.

Question 23

How are workers powerless over the products of their labour? (exploitation and alienation)

Answer 23

A labourer in a car factory collects zero of the profit made - meaning there is a complete disconnect between the work they do and the profits they receive.

Question 24

What does Marx mean by the ‘objectification of man’? (exploitation and alienation)

Answer 24

In capitalism, workers create whatever is required of them, with no control because the product of their labour belong to their employer.
Marx claims that under a marxist society everything created would be kept by the individual.
Marx thought the alienation of man kept individuals away from their natural state of nature

Question 25

Explain the marxist theory of revolutionary social change?

Answer 25

Marxists wanted social change to happen rapidly. Marx believed revolution was 'essential' for the liberation of social classes. The proletariat would rise up against the state and create a classless communist society. Private ownership would be abolished and would be replaced with communal ownership.
First, however, the working class need to replace false class consciousness with full class consciousness.

Question 26

Evaluation of the exploitation and alienation theory

Answer 26

Functionalists argue that people end up in low paid jobs because of their own fault.
Workers now have more rights than ever

Question 27

Evaluation of the revolution theory?

Answer 27

Many people happy with capitalism

Communist rule has led to the oppression of more people than capitalism

Question 28

Explain Marx and Engles ‘historicism’ theory which relates to exploitation and alienation?

Answer 28

Refers to each stage of history and how it was defined by a clash of economic ideas. Within every stage of history there was an ideological clash which Hegel described as a dialect. This dialect occurred when the ideology of the ruling class no longer corresponded to the majority. These people then experienced Marx and Hegels 'alienation' 
This happended through every economic system throughout history e.c.t Feudal or capitalist

Question 29

What did the Financial Times find about the relationship between levels of deprivation and Brexit vote?

Answer 29

Found that the most materially deprived people in society were most likely to vote for UKIP in the 2015 General Election 
--shows how working class is distracted for an anti-immigration party when they are being exploited