Neo - Marxism

Question 1

who are the thinkers when it comes to structural neo - marxism

Answer 1

Althusser
Ian craib

Question 2

What are the two types of neo - marxist

Answer 2

Sturctural
humanistic

Question 3

what are the two state apparatuses according to Althusser

Answer 3

Ideological state apparatus - institutions that spread bourgeois ideology and ensure that the proletariat is in a state of false class consciousness e.g. family , education , media etc.

Repressive state apparatuses - a collection of institutions that the ruling class uses to maintain control over the working class: the army, the police, the judiciary, and the prison system

Question 4

What are the three levels of structual determinism

Answer 4

1. Economic Level – All activities which produce something to meet a need.
   Dominates capitalism.
2. Political Level – All forms of organisation in
   including the RSA’s which coerce workers into the false class consciousness.
3. Ideological Level – The ways people see themselves and the world. Including ISA’s which socialise and manipulate people into FCC

Question 5

what is meant by relative autonomy

Answer 5

Institutions (like schools or governments) can do things on their own, but they’re still influenced by bigger things (like the economy or society).

Question 6

Requirements for socialism to come about

Answer 6

Counter Hegemony created by the working class to over thrown the cultural hegemony of the ruling class.

Question 7

who is the creator of the three Storey Building Analogy

Answer 7

Ian Craib

Question 8

Explain what the three Storey Building Analogy is

Answer 8

1. Top Floor Living Quarters = Ideological
   Level
2. First Floor
   Offices =
   Political Level
3. Ground Floor
   Shop =
   Economic Level

Question 9

Who is the key thinker for humanistic neo - marxist

Answer 9

Gramsci

Question 10

what is gramsci’s concept of hegemoney

Answer 10

means the dominance in society of the ruling class ideology and the acceptance of and consent to by the rest society

Question 11

define voluntarism in relation to humanistic neo - marxist

Answer 11

means the working class choose to accept the ruling class ideology.

Question 12

What are the two ways that the ruling class ideology is maintained

Answer 12

Coersion - the use of the army, police and other government agencies to force other classes to accept ruling class ideology.

Concent - uses ideas and values to persuade the other classes that ruling class ideology is legitimate

Question 13

what are the reasons why Ruling Class hegemony is never complete

Answer 13

1. Ruling class are the minority
2. Duel consciousness

Question 14

Define dual consciousness

Answer 14

the belief that the working class know that they are being exploited and oppressed but decide not to do anything

Question 15

who are organic intelectuals

Answer 15

They’re someone who comes from the same group as you and helps lead your group to be stronger and fairer.

Question 16

what is the evaluation of humanistic neo - marxist

Question 17

What is the evaluation of structural neo - marxists

Answer 17

• Replaces economic determinism is replaced by a more complex system.
• Discourages political activism by suggesting that individuals can do little to change society.
• Ignores examples of working class struggles changing society.
• Thompson – Althusser is elitist and suggests people follow communist party blindly