Week 4: Industrialisation and capitalism Flashcards
Main factors of industrialisation?
Standardised work hours
Mass production
Specialisation of skills and trade
Movement to cities
What is industrialisation?
Industrialisation transformed the way societies produced the goods required to meet their needs
What is capitalism?
Capitalism transformed the structure of the economic system.
When did industrialisation happen?
Commonly dated between 1760 and 1850 the Industrial Revolution refers to a period of major social, economic and technological change that first began in Britain and spread during the 1800s and 1900s throughout Europe, the USA, Japan and Australia
What system of wealth was in place before capitalism?
The feudal system, the main source of wealth was land. Land was owned by feudal lords (aristocracy). Labour was provided by serfs or peasants legally bound to the lord. In return for minimal housing, peasants had a small patch of land to grow food for themselves.
What is the difference from feudal system to capitalism?
For capitalism the main source of wealth was ‘capital’ invested in industrial production (especially factories). Factories were owned by capitalists and work was done by workers who sold their labour.
Profit was made from surplus value.
Capitalism is based on the accumulation and investment of capital, free markets and the maximisation of profit.
Capitalism is a dynamic, economic system, but left unbridled its logic can lead to there being no welfare, low wages and poor working conditions.
What are some main factors of how labour work changed with industrialisation?
Mass production Alienation of workers - Marx Division of labour Production lines - Ford Motors Highly repetitive work No relationship with stakeholders and customers
What are the 4 types of alienation?
Product Alienation;
Activity Alienation;
Species Alienation;
Social Alienation.
What is taylorism?
The type of ‘scientific’ management of workers associated with the writings of the American, F.W Taylor (1856 -1915). Taylor argued that for industrial output to increase, managers needed to establish hierarchies at work, compartmentalise offices and jobs, increase the specialisation of workers, and further the division of labour.
What is Hegemony?
An old political concept referring to political predominance of one state over another, or of one class over another, but which is first developed and introduced into modern political sociology by the Italian Weberian-Marxist political theorist journalist, and activist Antonio Gramsci (1891 1937)
