structural marxism Flashcards
ISA and RSA
althusser - agreed with humanistic marxists about dual functions of state but different terms
repressive state apparatus - parts of state that coerce the proletariat into accepting bourgeois dominance
ideological state apparatus - institutions that manipulate the proletariat into accepting capitalism as legitimate
rejecting the economic base / superstructure model
Althusser rejected both economic determinism of traditional marxism and the emphasis on free will of humanistic marxists
- argued that capitalist society as three structures
economic level, political level, ideological level
all have relative autonomy and two-way causality
rejecting gramsci
rejected view we are authors of our actions
while we may think we are authors of our actions - illusion created by ISAs - we are products of pre-existing structures that map out our lives for us
ISAs socialise us into filling our allotted places in the relations of production
revolution will only occur if crisis in capitalism - contradictions at different levels of three structures - over-determinations
strengths
Craib - offers the most sophisticated conception of social structure available in the social sciences
limitations
Althusser’s structural marxism is also deterministic - structural determinism rather than economic
this is done by stressing structural factors - allowing individuals little free will
overlooks the role played by working classes in struggling against capitalism
discourages political activism as political activism wont cause change