Marxist Theory Of Class Inequality

Question 1

What are the four explanations for class inequality?

Answer 1

1. Society has historically faced divisions of power
2. The ruling class uses ideological control to maintain their superior position
3. Class inequality is justified through hegemony
4. Power is becoming more concentrated in society

Question 2

Who said society has historically faced divisions of power?

Answer 2

• Marx

Question 3

What did Marx say about divisions of power?

Answer 3

• historical materialism is the idea that all human beings have material needs for food, shelter etc. and need to work to meet these through labour, what Marx called the forces of production
• humans entered into social relations of productions and production is then directed by the class of owners to meet their needs
• exploitative and oppressive system which alienates the proletariats

Question 4

Who said the ruling class uses ideological control to maintain their superior position?

Answer 4

• Marx

Question 5

What did Marx say about the ruling class maintaining their superior position?

Answer 5

• capitalist system seen as reasonable and just rather than exploitative and oppressive due to the ruling class ideologies which causes false class consciousness
• Althusser can also be used to support (education doesn’t transmit common values as it’s an ideological state apparatus controlled by the bourgeoisie- its function is to maintain, legitimate and reproduce generation by generation class inequalities in wealth and power by transmitting ruling class values disguised as common values through the hidden curriculum)

Question 6

Who said class inequality is justified through hegemony?

Answer 6

• Gramsci

Question 7

What did Gramsci say?

Answer 7

• ruling class rarely need to use force to exert power because they rule through persuasion
• hegemony used to describe the ruling classes use of cultural and political means to encourage enough of the working class to side with the ruling class and the capitalist system to ensure the stability of an economic system and involves using media and education institutions to control people’s minds
• however, hegemony is built but never complete as many of the working class have dual consciousness meaning they work with capitalism and contribute to it but are also aware of the inequalities and injustices it creates

Question 8

Who said power is becoming more concentrated in society?

Answer 8

• westergaard

Question 9

What did westergaard say?

Answer 9

• believed class divisions were widening due to the way the capitalist system operates
• gradual process of production being expanded and technology rendering the workforce obsolete will create polarisation of the classes (rich get richer and poor get poorer)
• ONS calculated the richest 10% of households hold 43% of all wealth, the poorest 50% own just 9%