marxism

Question 1

what type of a marxist is althusser

Answer 1

stuctural marxist

Question 2

what ideas does althusser have about society

Answer 2

marxism is a science based on determinism. structural factors of society determine the source of history. people are passive puppets

socialism will come about only when the contradicitions of capitalims lead to a collapse

discorages political action

Question 3

what type of a marxist is gramsci

Answer 3

humanistic marxist

Question 4

what ideas does gramci have on society

Answer 4

• marxism is a political critique and call to overthrow capitalism
• voluntarism; humans have free will they are able to make own history through their own consciousness
• socialism will come about when the wc become conscious of exploitation and overthrow capitalism

encouraging political action

Question 5

Proletariat and the bourgeoisie

Answer 5

Marx argued that society is split into two classes the working and ruling classes

The ruling class owns the means of production which exploits the working class, the workers produce the hoods and get paid a fraction of the price

The exploitation of the working class in the workplace is a consequence of capitalism keeping lower classes in their place

Question 6

Criticism of bourgeoisie and proletariat

Answer 6

Society is far more complex in the modern world
Western and rapidly developing countries have an emerging working class who own stocks and shares in the corporations of the working class

Similarly the WC do own their own houses now and thefore not all private property is owned by the RC ANYMORE

Question 7

Why the working class don’t revolt

Answer 7

ideological state aparatus such as education and religion means that the working classes are ideologically conditioned into believing that they are in a subordinate position in society because that is there rightful place

Creates a false class counciousness that makes the WC blind to their oppression and leads to no oppression to capitalism

For example in religion the working class are given compensatory promises that their lower place in society will be rewarded by getting into heaven to reduce opposition to capitalism

Question 8

Criticism to why WC don’t revolt

Answer 8

Post modernists argue that institutions in the modern day such as the media aren’t owned by the ruling class anymore

Therefore not all institutions are portraying this ideological conditioning anymore

Question 9

What the revolution would be like

Answer 9

Traditional Marxists argue that the communist revolution will come when the workers realise their false class counciouness and a full scale insurrection will be triggered and capitalism will be overthrown

Humanist Marxists such as Gramsci argues that revolution willl happen when the working class create a counter hegemony where political parties will overthrown capitalism

Question 10

Criticism of communist revolution

Answer 10

Communist revolutions that have happened in the world such as Russia haven’t brought class inequality but rather suffering a poverty disproving Marx’s ideas

Question 11

Neo Marxism

Answer 11

Agreed with Marx that capitalism is the source of WC oppression
However
They argue that the working class aren’t passive puppets and they do have the free will to make their own decisions

Any action against capitalism is a working class politically motivated to weaken capitalism

Ex. Working class crime is a volenturistic decision in order to steal from the rich and give to the poor