Neo-Marxism - Beliefs Flashcards
What is Neo-Marxism?
An updated version of Marxism
How does Neo-Marxism differ from Marxism? (2 points)
- Suggest religion can be used by the working class to create social change
- Institutions of society have relative autonomy from the economy
What does Gramsci argue? (3 points)
- That beliefs are no less real or important than economic forces.
- Suggests for revolution to occur w/c must shape its ideas to explain w/c experience to help shape a working class consciousness
- Control over consciousness = Hegemony (dominate belief system
What does Althusser argue? (2 points)
- That religion is an ISA: it spreads dominate ideology and creates hegemony (acceptance and dominance of bourgeois ideas)
- Believed religion had relative autonomy from the economy
What does Maduro argue?
Religion can be a force for change. It can be a revolutionary force used to support proletariat to challenge the ruling class
What are 3 evaluation points of Gramsci, Althusser and Maduro’s views?
1) How much does religion support w/c as in Britain 80% of Bishops are ruling class
2) So little people attend Church that a working class consciousness can’t be created
3) To spread ideas education and media are the best way to promote them
What is Liberation Theology?
A religious justification for the liberation of oppressed peoples
What happened in the Iranian Revolution?
- Shah wanted to westernise/modernise Iran: alcohol, leisure facilities e.g. nightclubs
- Population of Iran took a literal interpretation of the Koran to prove the Shah wrong - gained a huge following (lots of strikes and demonstrations)
- Over threw the Shah and replaced by Islamic republic (theocracy)
What do Marxists suggests about the infrastructure and superstructure?
That the economy determines the ISA which justifies what the economy is doing. The capitalists who run the economy control the superstructure which justifies their actions.
