Neo-Marxism

1. Traditional Marxism focuses on the relationship between capitalists and the working class, emphasising economic determinism while ignoring structural inequalities like gender and racial inequality.

2. Neo-Marxists, however, explore how ideology and access to power explain these inequalities, rejecting economic determinism. They often see how ideologies through media control are the primary means of maintaining power.

The difference between Marxism and Neo-Marxism

1. Marxism

2. Neo-Marxism

By providing workers with protections like a minimum wage and health & safety measures, workers felt that capitalists were on their side and didn't develop class consciousness. He believed that while the labour movement achieved enough to prevent a socialist revolution, it didn't improve society for everyone.

Poulantzas

A dated theory - relevant at the time of writing. there have been significant advancements in workers' rights and protections in contemporary society

what is a criticism of Poulantzas’s theory?

He believes that there are now many more social classes and that the middle class, whilst being expoloited, exploit the working class themselves. 

He argues that class position is based on controlling: 

• the work process 

• other workers

• production 

Erik Ohlin Wright

believes that a transition to socialism will happen gradually through social reform. Western society is seeing the opposite though, with the divide between the richest and poorest growing. 

criticism of Erik Ohlin Wright

argued that the state functions to serve capitalist interests as the people who govern are from the same social backgrounds, and know each other socially, having been to the same schools and clubs.

Milliband

• Much neo-Marxism is theoretical and there is little or no supporting evidence for the ideas. 

• Many neo-Marxists present the idea of a conspiracy theory - the idea that governments and the rich plot how to keep the workers under control. This is very simplistic and without proof. 

• Feminists argue that neo-Marxists still ignore gender.

Evaluation of Neo-Marxism