marxism Flashcards
(27 cards)
What do conflict structuralists believe about society?
They believe there’s a conflict of interest between different groups in society.
Who are examples of conflict structuralists?
- Marxists
- Feminists
What does Marxism state about capitalist society?
It has created two classes with different needs.
What are the two conflicting classes identified by Marx?
- The ruling class (the bourgeoisie)
- The working class (the proletariat)
What is the economic base of society according to Marx?
The means of production.
What is economic determinism in Marxist theory?
The economic base determines the superstructure (institutions in society).
What is the role of the superstructure in Marxist theory?
To legitimise the position of the ruling class.
How does Marxist theory explain failure in school?
It leads individuals to believe that their failures are due to personal shortcomings rather than social class position.
What is false class consciousness?
A state where the proletariat is not fully aware of their oppression.
What did Marx argue was necessary for the proletariat to recognize their oppression?
Revolution.
What is Neo-Marxism focused on?
Ideology.
What concept did Gramsci develop in Humanistic Marxism?
Hegemony.
What is hegemony according to Gramsci?
The dominance of ruling class ideology in society.
How does Gramsci argue social control is maintained?
Through ideas, not just economics.
What do ruling class control over means of producing ideas lead to?
Their ideas becoming dominant.
What is proletarian hegemony?
A new idea of how to organize society that the working class must develop.
What criticism is leveled against Gramsci’s theory?
He overemphasizes the role of ideas and underemphasizes the role of the state and economic factors.
What does Paul Willis’s study illustrate about working class boys?
They partially penetrated bourgeois ideology and realized meritocracy is a myth.
Who is an important figure in Structuralist Marxism?
Althusser.
What does Althusser argue about people’s ability to generate new ideas?
It is a lie created by society’s ideological state apparatuses (ISA’s).
What are the three important structures in Althusser’s model?
- Economic
- Political
- Ideological
What is relative autonomy in Althusser’s theory?
Structures are partly independent from each other.
What does two-way causality mean in Althusser’s context?
Political and ideological levels can affect the economy.
What analogy does Craib use to illustrate Althusser’s ideas?
The shop analogy.
