Theories: Marxism

Question 1

How do Marxists see society?

Answer 1

As a structure that shapes individuals behaviour and ideas. Argue that within society there is a conflict of interest between social classes of unequal power and wealth.

Question 2

Marx (1867)

Answer 2

• Said there were two conflicting classes in capitalist society: the bourgeoisie and the proletariat.
• Said that the relationship between these two classes was unequal and exploitative because the value of wages paid was worth less than the value of the product.

Question 3

What are the bourgeoisie?

Answer 3

The ruling class who own and control the means of production (factories, machinery).

Question 4

What are the proletariat?

Answer 4

The working class who labour for the ruling class.

Question 5

What are ‘the social relations of production’:

Answer 5

The relationship between the proletariat and bourgeoisie. These relations are exploitative as the value of wages paid to the workers is worth less than the value of the product. This creates a conflict - workers want wages, bourgeoisie want more labour for the same wage.

Question 6

What is economic determinism?

Answer 6

The idea that the means of production make up the economic base of society. This base then determines the superstructure.

Question 7

What is the superstructure?

Answer 7

The institutions of society like religion, education, media, and family.

Question 8

What do Traditional Marxists believe is the job of the superstructure?

Answer 8

To legitimise the position of the ruling class by transmitting ruling class ideology. Institutions are set up to stop the WC gaining power, making them believe the capitalist system is based on meritocracy.

Question 9

What is a false concioussness?

Answer 9

The proletariat not being aware of the oppression they suffer and how to break free from it - Marx believed the institutions of society promoted this.

Question 10

What did Marx argue was the eventual outcome of capitalist society?

Answer 10

Marx argued that revolution was the only way for the proletariat to recognise how they had been oppressed and that a socialist or communist society would then emerge.

Question 11

What is traditional Marxism?

Answer 11

Classical Marxism refers to the economic, philosophical and sociological theories expounded by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels.

Question 12

Weber - Criticism of Traditional Marxism

Answer 12

• Argues that status and power differences can also be important sources of inequality, independently of class.
• Also views Marxist categories as too simplistic, subdivides the proletariat into skilled and unskilled classes and includes a white-collar class of office workers and a petty bourgeoisie.

Question 13

Feminist Criticism of Traditional Marxism

Answer 13

Argue gender is a more fundamental source of inequality than class. Patriarchy predates capitalism.

Question 14

Who came up with the idea of ‘petty bourgeoisie’?

Answer 14

Weber, subdivides bourgeoise into petty bourgeoisie - little capitalists.

Question 15

Criticisms of economic determinism:

Answer 15

Views economic factors as the sole cause of everything in society, including social change. Fails to recognise humans have free will and can bring about change through their actions.

Question 16

General Criticisms of Traditional Marxism:

Answer 16

• Two class model is too simplistic.
• One-dimensional view of inequality.
• Marx’s predictions of a universal revolution have not come true.
• Guilty of understating WC ability to see through ideology.
• Society is now fairer - through the expansion of the welfare state.

Question 17

Strengths of Traditional Marxism:

Answer 17

• First critical theory which explained the huge and persistent inequalities in society.
• Ideas show the power of the economy in shaping relationships and ideas, as well as offering a ‘solution’ by an alternative society.
• Ideas are relevant today as we see capitalism spread around the world.
• Possible to see how developing countries have become the new proletariat as labour is being ‘outsourced’.

Question 18

Neo-Marxism

Answer 18

Marx’s global revolution has not happened. Therefore neo-marxists developed new models of Marx’s theory to make them relevant to the modern world. They have tried to explain why capitalism has persisted and how it might be overthrown.

Question 19

What is neo-marxism?

Answer 19

Neo-Marxism is a Marxist school of thought encompassing 20th-century approaches that amend or extend Marxism and Marxist theory, typically by incorporating elements from other intellectual traditions such as critical theory, psychoanalysis, or existentialism.

Question 20

What is hegemony?

Answer 20

The domination of ruling class ideology in society.

Question 21

What is humanistic marxism?

Answer 21

An investigation into “what human nature consists of and what sort of society would be most conducive to human thriving” from a critical perspective rooted in Marxist philosophy.

Question 22

Who put forward the concept of hegemony?

Answer 22

Gramsci

Question 23

Gramsci

Answer 23

• Focused on hegemony
• Argued that social control does not just come through economics, but also from ideas.