Marxism Flashcards
What does Karl Marx believe about society?
The ruling class oppresses the working-class through exploitation, reproducing ideology that makes them reluctant to revolt against them (false class consciousness).
What is false class consciousness?
The working class being unaware of the exploitation they face because of institution such as religion and the family fooling people into believing the ruling class benefits them and society.
What are the seven key ideas of Marxism?
Historical materialism, class society and exploitation, capitalism, class consciousness, ideology, alienation and the state
What is historical materialism?
The idea that the economic base determines or shapes all other features of society - the superstructure of institutions, beliefs and ideas.
What is the concept of alienation?
The result of the loss of control over our own labour and therefore loss of our true nature e.g. ruling class owning the means of production which isolates the proletariat
How does the state enforce class inequality?
The ruling class using the state to protect their wealth and private property through brute force and suppress revolution
How does Marx aim to achieve a classless society?
A violent revolution by the proletariat against the bourgeoisie that leads to the abolition of the state, common ownership and ending alienation
What are critiques of Marx’s ideas?
Economic determinism (Althusser) - Economic base-superstructure model fails to recognise humans have free will and can bring change through their actions, and neglects the role of ideas.
Simplistic, one-dimensional view of inequality by viewing class as the only source of inequality. Weber - status and power differences.
Two-class model is simplistic - Weber - sub-divides the proletariat into skilled and unskilled workers, white-collar m/c office workers and a petty bourgeoisie
Class polarisation has not occurred - the m/c has grown whilst the w/c has shrunk. BUT the proletariat has grown in countries like India and China due to globalisation.
What are the two types of Marxism according to Gouldner (1973)?
Humanistic/critical Marxism - similarities with interpretivism and social action theory
Structural Marxism - structural approach with similarities to positivism
What is hegemony?
The ruling class using ideas and values to persuade the proletariat that its rule is legitimate
Does the ruling class maintain its dominance through hegemony and bribes?
No - through coercion and hegemony
Why is ruling class dominance never complete?
The ruling-class is a minority - they need to make a power bloc with the m/c to rule - make ideological compromises
Dual consciousness - Their ideas are influenced by bourgeois ideology but also by the poverty and exploitation they face
How will (in Gramsci’s eyes) the proletariat revolt against the ruling-class?
By constructing a counter-hegemonic bloc that offers moral and ideological leadership to society, by producing their own organic intellectuals (class conscious workers) who are able to formulate an alternative vision of how society could be run in the future.
Critiques to Gramsci
Over-emphasises the role of ideas.
