Theory and Methods

Question 1

What is historical materialism?

Answer 1

humans have material need and need to work to meet these
the tools to gain this have developed over time
this creates two classes and the economic base determined their behaviours

Question 2

What is the definition of marxism?

Answer 2

a macro conflict theory where the proletariat are exploited by the bourgeoise for surplus value

Question 3

How has class developed according Marx

Answer 3

all society starts with primitive communism
force of production grows
one class then owns the means of production and surplus value
relies on slavery
ancient - feudal - capitalist

Question 4

What is ideology

Answer 4

the class that owns the means of production also owns and controls the dominant ideology
produces and spreads through media and religion to legitimise the existing social order

Question 5

What is alienation

Answer 5

workers are separated from the product they create
they are also separate from their creative nature

Question 6

What is class consciousness?

Answer 6

polarising classes, bringing down wages creates the condition which the working class can develop consciousness of its own conic position in opposition to its exploiters

Question 7

How does capitalism work according to Marx

Answer 7

exploits proletariat wages as they do not reflect the value of the products
the difference between this is the surplus value
the people who own production becomes more concentrated so more people become part of the proletariat

Question 8

What is hegemony

Answer 8

dominant ideology - maintained through ideas and values to persuade the subordinate class

Question 9

What did Gramsci say about class consciousness

Answer 9

the proletariat have dual consciousness and are influenced by bourgeois ideas and their material consirions

Question 10

How does the ruling class keep their power according to gramsci

Answer 10

by making alliances with the middle class to create a power bloc

Question 11

What are organic intellectuals are what are their jobs?

Answer 11

leaders of the revolution who will spread a counter hegemony to win ideological leadership. from the ruling class

Question 12

What are the three parts of Althussers superstructure

Answer 12

economic level - means of production
political level - all forms of organisation
ideological - ways that people see themselves

Question 13

What is Althusserrs two state apparatus

Answer 13

repressive - armed bodies of men that use force and fear to get people to comply
ideologically- manipulate the working class into accepting capitalism as legitimate

Question 14

What does Althusser believe about free will

Answer 14

we are not free agents we are products of social structures that determine everything about us

Question 15

What are the criticisms of marx

Answer 15

economic determinism - humans have free will and can change through their actions
one dimensional view of inequality - gender is also important (feminist) - Wbeer status and power divides as well
class polarisation has not occurred
Marx’s prediction for revolution has not come true

Question 16

What are criticisms of Gramsci?

Answer 16

Willis (1977) describes the working class as partially penetrating bourgeois ideology
criticised for being too optimistic by Althusser

Question 17

criticisms of Althusser?

Answer 17

Poster modernist reject science being used to improve society as it creates a mettanarrarice
Craib - Althusser offers the most sophisticated conception of social structure

Question 18

What is the link for functionalists about roles

Answer 18

our individual actions are governed by specific norms that comes in clusters called status roles
roles are sets of norms that tell us how someone must carry out their duties
this creates social order

Question 19

What is AGIL schema?

Answer 19

adaption - material needs which is met by the economic system
goal attainment - need for goals and resources to achieve them which is met by the political system
integration - need to be interpreted to pursue shared goals which is met by religion
latency - manitoba society which is met by the kinship systen

Question 20

What are the pattern of name in traditional society (variable A)

Answer 20

ascription - status based on fixed characteristics
diffuses - relation are broad
particularism - norms emphasise treating people differently
affective - immediate gratification
collective orientation

Question 21

What are the pattern of norms in modern society (varianel B)

Answer 21

achievement - status based on performance
specificities - relationships are limited
universalism - everyone ben g treated the same
affective neutrality- deferred gratification
self orientation

Question 22

What do functionalists say about change?

Answer 22

change is gradual as in the organic analogy society has gone simple organism to a highly complex organism
this has caused structural differentiation
gradual change occurs through a moving equilibrium

Question 23

What are criticisms of functionalism?

Answer 23

teleology - things exists because of their effect or function
postmodernists - cannot account for the diversity and instability that exists - crates a mettanartive
marxists - society is not harmonious and is based on exploiting ruin
Wong - deterministic view as humans to have free will to shape society

Question 24

How does Merton criticise functionalism?

Answer 24

criticises that belief that functions are indispensable- same sex couples socialise just as well
criticise that change will have a knock on effect - modern society have many separate parts
criticised that society performs a positive function as some can be unbeneifcal for others
there is a distinction from manifest and