Marxism Flashcards
Who is the founding father of Marxism?
Karl Marx
Is Marxism a conflict or consensus theory?
Conflict
Marxism is a structural theory. What does that mean?
Large social organisations and institutions have power/control/influence over individuals and their behaviour
What is capitalism?
An ideology (belief system) that focusses on generating individual/private profit and wealth
Who are the bourgeoisie?
The upper/ruling class
Who are the proletariat?
The working class
What is an Ideological State Apparatus?
A tool used by the government to make people believe certain things and behave in certain ways. A method of social control. E.g. religion, education, media
What is a Repressive State Apparatus?
A tool used by the government to control people’s behaviour through force. E.g. military, laws, police
What is False Class Consciousness?
When the working class do not realise they are being exploited
What does it mean to become Class Conscious?
Becoming aware of how you are being exploited
What do Marxists think Capitalism will lead to?
A communist revolution where the people rise up and seize the means of production
What are the means of production?
Anything that creates wealth, or creates something which can be sold for wealth
What is communism?
An ideology that believes everything should be owned by the government and given out to the people equally
What is the Correspondence Principle?
The idea that school reflects aspects of the workplace
What is the Myth of Meritocracy?
Marxists say meritocracy does not exist. People are told this exists so that they blame themselves for their lack of success/happiness, rather than seeing that they are being exploited. “If you haven’t done well in life it’s because you didn’t work hard enough”
