SOCIOLOGICAL THEORY - Marxism Flashcards
Is Marxism a ‘Conflict’ or ‘Consensus’ Theory?
A CONFLICT THEORY - It sees society as being in constant conflict between these social classes.
What are the names of the 5 epochs that Marx identified?
- Primitive Communism
- Ancient Society
- Feudalism
- Capitalist Society
- Advanced Communism / Communism
Explain Primitive Communism!
Society was free of social class division - people gathered food for each other and there was NO EXPLOITATION!
TRUE OR FALSE = The Ancient Society was the 1st stage of exploitation?
FALSE = The Ancient Society was the 2nd stage of exploitation - the relationship between aristocrats and slaves characterised society!
REMEMBER: The 5 epochs moved from communism with no social class system or exploitation (primitive communism) to one that ran off exploitation of one class (all epochs up until capitalism) to communism!
Explain Feudalism!
Medieval society was divided into landowners and land occupiers; EXPLOITATION! Exploitation of one class by another class!
Explain Capitalist Society!
CURRENT SOCIETY = This is unjust because the rich exploit the poor!
Explain Advanced Communism / Communism!
Marx’s prediction for the next stage of society - Shared resources, wealth, and equality are traits of Marx’s ideal societal structure!
What are the two classes of capitalist society?
BOURGEOISIE = Owns the means of production and controls the wealth of the country.
PROLETARIAT = Sells its time and labour to the bourgeoisie for money.
What is the economic base?
The means of production (the land, materials, factories and equipment for production) and the relations of production (they organise the workers involved in the production of goods and services).
What is the superstructure?
This is the name given to all other institutions and structures in society, such as the government, religion, education, and family. These institutions reproduce bourgeoisie ideas and values; this maintains the status quo and uphold the capitalist’s agenda.
What is the ‘false class consciousness’?
Where, as a result of ideological control by the institutions, the proletariat does not realise its exploitation because it believes its exploitative working conditions are normal.
What is ‘alienation’?
Disengagement from work, community, and a sense of belonging - Marxists say that this is necessary, as it prevents workers from feeling like they are in control!
What are the 2 strengths of Traditional /Historic Marxism? HINT: Influence at the time and influence today.
- Traditional Marxism was considered a MAJOR INFLUENCE IN ITS TIME, as it advocated for social and economic change.
- Many people claim that MARXISM IS STILL RELEVANT TODAY - Institutions still use ideological control to promote a capitalist agenda and to justify inequalities. EXAMPLE = Sweatshops for large corporations, like Shein.
What are the weaknesses of Traditional / Historic Marxism? HINT: Other factors, idealistic and simplistic.
- Marxism IGNORES THE INFLUENCE OF OTHER FACTORS on social inequalities, such as ethnicity, religion, and gender.
- Marxism has been argued as TOO IDEALISTIC.
- Marxism is OVERLY SIMPLISTIC - Society is not just split between 2 social classes.
What sociologist was a Humanistic Neo-Marxism?
Antonio Gramsci!
What concept did Gramsci come up with?
Hegemony!
What does Hegemony mean?
Hegemony refers to the domination of one group or class over another through the ideological leadership of society!
What did Gramsci claim that the bourgeoisie used to maintain power?
He claimed that the capitalist state used 2 ways of enforcing control = Coercion and consent (AKA: ‘Carrot’ and ‘stick’ policies)!
What is Coercion?
Coercion works through the army, police force and the judicial system, which enforce state rule = RSA under Althusser!
What is Cultural Hegemony?
Cultural hegemony works through the ideas and values of the bourgeoisie, which persuades individuals that their lifestyle makes sense = ISA under Althusser!
What did Gramsci believe could counter the 2 ways that the capitalist system uses to enforce control?
He believed that organic or proletarian intellectuals needed to form their own ‘counter-hegemony’.
What would a ‘counter-hegemony’ do?
A ‘counter-hegemony’ would challenge bourgeois ideology and allow the proletariat to bring about social change.
Gramsci said that the proletariat has a ‘dual-consciousness’. What does this mean?
‘Dual-consciousness’ refers to the proletariat’s awareness of their exploitation. For these reasons, the bourgeoisie never has complete control.
What did Gramsci’s ideas challenge in terms of Marx’s work?
Gramsci’s ideas challenged the passive nature of the proletariat as described by Marx in Traditional/Historic Marxism = Gramsci claimed that individuals can see through their exploitation, unlike Marx, who claimed that the proletariat experiences false class consciousness.
