Marxism

Question 1

Overall:

Answer 1

The cause of inequality is class conflict and an over control of the means of production between the bourgeoisie and proletariat.
The relationship between the bourgeoisie and proletariat is unequal and exploitative. Owners create profits from the work of the poor. This ‘surplus value’ is the main source of wealth.

Question 2

Marx: Value and Surplus Value

Answer 2

Value of products= determined by the labour time to produce them. Workers get paid less than the value they create (surplus value goes to bourgeoisie)
Predits cap economies will run into trouble when workers can’t afford to buy the products their making.
Economy can’t survive off the spending power of small number of rich people.
AO3- Abbott and Wallace: gender inequality is so great that women are a separate class, marx fails to consider gender inequality.

Question 3

Marx: False Consciousness and Inequality

Answer 3

Workers= indoctrinated into false consciousness (because cap is fair)
Do not realise they are being exploited.
If profits generated through means of production were shared equally then everyone would have a good standard of living.
If workers understood this then they would not tolerate capitalism.

Question 4

Althusser:

Answer 4

Ideological state apparatus controls and indoctrinates capitalism ideology - education, media.
Repressive state apparatus ‘physically’ protects capitalism through CJS and police- only used when people develop class consciousness and try and change the state apparatus

Question 5

Westergaard and Resler: Competition and Power

Answer 5

Capitalism encourages competition and therefore inequality.
Significant inequality in power distribution in capitalism.
Bourgeoisie hold most of the power in society and an unequal distribution of this power is the main cause of social inequality.
A03- Weber also considers power (party) as a key aspect of social inequality, but this is not always linked to wealth inequality

Question 6

Kincaid: Motivation and Unequal Rewards

Answer 6

Capitalism requires a highly motivated workforce and this is based on meritocracy.
Those whose services are not required, get lower rewards than the workforce. If this was not the case, there would be no incentive to work = cause of inequality
Workers compete with each other for higher income and work harder to achieve.
People with the lowest wages help to reduce the demand for higher wages as the workforce compares their wages with the lowest jobs.
A03- Davis and Moore would agree, but suggest social inequality is a result of role allocation, people are motivated by high rewards and this helps maintain society, not capitalism.

Question 7

Marx: Reserve Army of Labour

Answer 7

Groups within the working class develop a reserve army of labour, mostly women, migrant workers and the poorest in society. This means that regular workers cannot demand high wages as there is always someone who is very poor that will be willing to take their job. This is a key cause of inequality.
A03- Barron and Norris: women and some ethnic minority groups dominate the secondary labour market, whereas men dominate primary.

Question 8

Byrne: New Reserve Army of Labour

Answer 8

Globalisation= led to an increase in poverty and inequality as capitalists move their businesses to less developed countries where wages are cheaper.
There has been restrictions on unions preventing strikes for higher wages.
The benefits system forces people to work, regardless of how low the pay is.
This has all led to a new reserve army of labour- a group of unemployed, who are desperate to work for lower wages= keeps wages low.
A03- Supported by postmodernist Baudrillard; highlights globalisation and the decline of manufacturing as a cause of inequality in society.