Marxism (T&M)

Question 1

conflict theory

Answer 1

A conflict theory is a theory that suggests society is in conflict between certain groups. In the case of Marxism the conflict is between social classes.

Question 2

Bourgeoisie

Answer 2

Bourgeoisie means the owners of the means of production and the ruling class.

Question 3

Proletariat

Answer 3

Proletariat means the workers who are the relations of production and are oppressed by the bourgeoise.

Question 4

Alienation

Answer 4

Alienation means the process whereby the worker is made to feel foreign to the products of his/her own labour.

Question 5

False Class Consciousness

Answer 5

False Class Consciousness means the way that the proletariat are led to believe their oppression by the bourgeoise is normal and that if they work hard they can become the bourgeoisie.

Question 6

five stages of society according to Marx

Answer 6

Primitive Communism – Classless society
Feudal Society – Landowners vs Peasants
Capitalist Society – Bourgeoisie vs Proletariat
Socialism – Government owners vs Workers
Communism – Classless society

Question 7

Marxist structure of a capitalist society

Answer 7

Superstructure (Top): Ideologies and structures of transfer
Means of Production (Middle): Natural resources, land, technology
Relations of Production (Base): The people (workers vs owners)

Question 8

key features of a capitalist society

Answer 8

The proletariat are legally free and separated from the means of production.
Competition between capitalists leads to the means of production becoming concentrated.
The proletariat do not receive the value of the goods their labour produces, but only the cost of subsistence.

Question 9

features of a communist society

Answer 9

Collective ownership of the means of production and abolition of production for profit.
Stateless and classless society.
Reclaiming control over the workers’ labour and the products they create (ending alienation).

Question 10

Marxism criticised for being oversimplified

Answer 10

Marx focuses solely on class divisions within society but Weber suggests that inequality can be caused by power and status independently of class structures. Feminists would also argue that there is more inequality between genders than between classes. The two-class system is also over-simplistic – it is currently suggested that there are seven different classes within British society.

Question 11

criticism of economic determinism in Marxism

Answer 11

Marx’s system is based on the view that economic factors are the sole cause of everything in society, from inequality to social change. Weber argues that Marxism ignores the role of ideas in social change – for example, Calvinism’s role in the rise of capitalism.

Question 12

lack of revolution a major criticism of Marxism

Answer 12

The revolution Marx predicted has not occurred, and he was vague about the conditions that would cause it. Marx suggested revolution would occur in the most advanced capitalist societies, yet revolutions occurred in more backward countries like Russia and Cuba.

Question 13

Marxism criticised as being out of date

Answer 13

Capitalism has become less exploitative than during the industrial revolution. Keynesian economics created more government oversight and welfare states. Some institutions have become autonomous from the bourgeoisie, such as the media becoming critical of the elite.