Marxist key terms

capitalism

an economic and political system where the countries trade and industry are privately controlled and those who control it gain profit

class conflict

the struggle over the means to control society the bourgeoisie vs the proletariat who control and sell their labour to one another

bourgeoisie

middle class, who are capitalists and who own most of society’s wealth and production

proletariat

lower class people who sell their labour to the bourgeoisie

ideology

set of opinions and beliefs of a group or an individual

false consciousness

idea that people in a capitalistic society unknowingly participate in a system that promotes inequality

myth of meritocracy

that achieving your status in society through your merits is not widely attainable in capitalist societies because of inherent contradictions

ideological state apparatus

the bourgeoise maintain power by using repressive state apparatus; instutions spread the bourgeoise ideology to ensure that the proletariat’s are in a state of false class consciousness - seen in the education system

hidden curriculum

schools teaching their pupils a whole range of other things in a more subtle/covert way. marxist see this teaching of norms and values as teaching people how to accept the principles of the state

repression

the action of subduing/preventing someone by force

conformity

behaviour which is in accordance with socially accepted conventions

hegemony

leadership/dominance especially by one state/social group over others

deschooling

concept of challenging traditional education system in advocation of a more alternative learning and education