Patterns and trends: social inequality: Marxist Flashcards
1
Q
What were Karl Marx’s basic view ?
A
- Society is set up so the rich remain rich and the poor remain poor
- Look at the proletariat and the bourgeoises
2
Q
What is class conflict ?
A
- Even though the proletariat and the bourgeoisie depend on one another, their relationship is a class conflict
- Only a fraction of the profit the proletariat make actually comes back to them
- Workers are exploited by the rich to keep wages low and profits high
- Capitalism has contradictions which could lead to their downfall
3
Q
What are the 3 contradictions of capitalism ?
A
- Polarisation of social class
- Alienation
- Economic crisis
4
Q
What is the polarisation of social class ?
A
- The divide between the two classes will grown wider because of wages driven down and profits rising
- Intermediate class people who own small businesses are driven out by big businesses
- This widens the gap
5
Q
What is alienation ?
A
- Workers may not find any satisfaction as they don’t have control over their own work
- Used simply as commodities to increase production and profits
- Outside of work people are encouraged to find satisfaction in consumer goods and materialism
6
Q
What is Economic crisis ?
A
- Capitalist economies are suffering from periodic cries
- Competition periods create a ‘boom’ but also lead to recession
- Eventually the crisis lead to the collapse of capitalism
7
Q
What would Marx’s ideal society look like ?
A
- Everyone would be able to contribute to society
-Instead of wages - people are paid in food accomodation and healthcare - Lead to a classless society
8
Q
What did Neo-Marixts Westegaard + Resler say ?
A
- Class division still exist
- They show no signs of stopping
- Class divisions gave widened since the 1970’s
9
Q
What did Neomarxist Braverman say ?
A
- There is proletarianisation of the middle class
- Middle class have become deskilled due to machinery
