Theory and Methods Flashcards
Bourgeoisie
the ruling class, typically with reference to it’s perceived materialistic values or conventional attitudes.
Proletariat
working class people regarded collectively
means of production
physical, non-human inputs used for the production of economic value such as, facilities machinery, tools, infrastructural capital and natural capital.
relations of production
the social structures that regulate the relation between humans in the production of goods.
exploitation
occurs when one social group is able to take for itself what is produced by another group.
alienation
the isolating, dehumanizing and disenchanting effects of working within a capitalist system of production.
surplus value
difference between a worker’s wages and the value of goods and services he or she produces.
class conflict
the tension or antagonism which exists in society due to competing socioeconomic interests and desires between people of different classes.
dominant ideology
denotes the attitudes, beliefs, values, and morals shared by the majority of people in the given society.
communism
a political system that aims to establish a classless society based on a communal ownership of property.
neo-marxism
an economic theory that the current worlds economic structure has been systematically implemented by use of a global class division with developing countries being exploited by industrialized nations.
relative autonomy
state can and does play a limited independent role in the maintenance and stabilization of capitalist society.
repressive state apparatus
what is know in contemporary political discourse as ‘hard power’ i.e. a form of power that operates by means of violence (army, police, prison system)
Ideological state apparatus
education, family, churches etc. that were formally outside state control but which serve to transmit the values of the state, to maintain order in society.
relative autonomy of the superstructure
the state can and does play a limited independent role in the maintenance and stabilization of capitalist society
ideological level
a set of opinions or beliefs of a group or an individual.
Political level
Social levels, clans, tribes, modern local governments, companies and institutions that define acceptable political methods within a given society.
Marxism as a political ideology
central role in understanding societies allegedly inevitable development from the bourgeoisie oppression under capitalism to a socialist and ultimately classless society.
Male stream
male sociologists carry out research which focuses on a masculine perspective and then assumes that the findings can be applied to women as well.
social policy
a plan or action of government agencies which aims to improve or reform society.
dual-systems feminism
a group that combine features of marxism and radical feminism into one theory. They regard patriarchy as the cause of women’s oppression as well as capitalism.
postmodern feminism
an approach to feminist theory that incorporates postmodern and post-structuralist theory, seeing itself as moving beyond the modernist polarities of liberal and radical feminism.
political ideology
a certain ethical set of ideals, principles, doctrines, myths or symbols of a social movement, institution, class or large group that explains how society should work offering some political and cultural blueprint for a certain social order.
Social Action
refers to an act which takes into account the actions and reactions of individuals (or ‘agents’).
