2b — marxist explanations for ethnic inequality

Question 1

Castles and Kossack

Answer 1

immigrant workforce used as a reserve army of labour to prevent other workers from demanding high wages

the more workers available, the weaker the workers’ bargaining position
lower demand for workers, lower wages, higher profits
workers become disposable
Uber is MASSIVE but makes their drivers use their own cars so higher profits

bourgeoisie encourage competition: divide and rule strategy
Owen Jones: media divides “deserving” and “undeserving” poor.

so, ethnic minorities (due to immigrant status) become proletariat

Question 2

Cox

Answer 2

Racism underpins capitalism

ethnic inequalities caused by capitalism
racism didn’t emerge until 14th century where colonialism and capitalism gained prominence

Colonialist system acts as if white European culture is superior and other cultures exist to be ‘saved’. Systematic exploitation and oppression ‘justified’ by the socially constructed racism

“if capitalism had not developed then the world might never have experienced racial prejudice”

Question 3

Castles and Kossack/Hall et al scapegoating of ethnic minorities

Answer 3

mugging 1970s 🇬🇧
MORAL PANIC 😱 about black men being muggers
—> complete over-exaggeration created by media, causing huge unnecessary concern over public safety

UK Capitalism faced social + economical unrest in early 70s
—> creating moral panic helped capitalism in 2 ✌️ ways
1. SCAPEGOAT: immigrants blamed, not flawed capitalist system
2. JUSTIFICATION: gives government excuse for suppressing certain groups

resulted in extreme labelling 🏷

Question 4

Bourdieu explanation of ethnic inequalities

Answer 4

High capital —> maintaining privilege —> high capital
(social, cultural, material)

SOCIAL: concerns about fitting in prevent employment, lack of connections, social exclusion
CULTURAL: Bernstein elaborated/restricted code, differences in values (collectivism)
MATERIAL: low wages due to systematic racism