Marxism Flashcards
What is Marxism?
- Founded by Karl Marx.
- It is a conflict theory between the poor and rich.
- The bourgeoisie (middle class) get richer and the proletariats (working class) get poorer - the middle class oppress the working class.
- Capitalist ran society
- Says we need a revolution for Communism and to get rid of Capitalism (w/c overthrow the m/c / the ruling class.
- Says that Marxism/Communism is the creation of society were all are equal and that all things are owned in common (by everyone).
What are the criticisms of Marxism?
1) Karl Marx reviewed class but had ignored other divisions within society. Eg, the division between genders (feminism) and the divisions between different ethnicities.
2) Marx believed that social class was based on economic divisions (how much money you have). However, some may argue that it can also be based on status (your position in society) between each group.
How is Marxism a conflict theory?
Marxism is a conflict theory as it displays the wealth disparity between the bourgeoisie and the proletariats and that it will cause conflict over power and money. Its the rich vs the poor.
What is the Bourgeoisie?
The bourgeoisie are the middle/capitalist class. They are employers who own the means of production (land, factories, machinery, offices etc). They make their profits by exploiting the proletariats.
What is an Industrial Revolution?
An Industrial Revolution is the movement of people to towns with factories. People move for work as they are in poverty.
What is the proletariats?
The proletariats are the working class and this is what the majority of people are. They are forced to sell their labour to capitalism.
What is surplus value?
Surplus value is the excess in money made from the labour and the wages they are paid.
What is class consciousness?
Class consciousness is where the working class are aware of their exploitation in order to start a revolution.
What is capitalism?
Capitalism is an economic and political system in which a country’s trade and industry are controlled by private owners for profit.
Capitalism is profit making.
What is the means of production?
The means of production in society include all of the physical elements, aside from human beings, that go into producing goods and services.
Including, natural resources, machines, tools, offices, computers, houses, businesses, factories and means of distribution (eg, online shops).
Money making.
What is the mode of production?
The mode of production is how things are made and how they work.
What is the reserve army of labour?
The reserved army of labour refer to the unemployed population who are prepared to work for low pay and temporary jobs, usually under poor or in 0 hour contracts.
What is alienation?
Alienation is where an individual or group feels socially isolated and estranged as they lack the power to control their lives and are unable to realise their true potential.
Karl Marx describes workers in a capitalist society as alienated as they are exploited and lack control of the production process - they are being kept down.
What is an economic base?
An economic base is whoever controls the money in capitalism. They can also be called infrastructure.
What is the repressive state apparatus?
They are people that control.
Eg, the police, the criminal justice system, the army.
