Learn: Introduction to Marxism & Conflict Paradigm

Conflict Paradigm

A macro-sociological perspective focusing on conflict between groups due to differing interests, power, and inequality.

Progenitor of Conflict Paradigm

Karl Marx, who developed Marxism.

Historical Materialism

A 3-stage process (thesis, antithesis, synthesis) describing how societies change throughout history.

Thesis

The current state of society or a given situation, typically featuring oppression.

Antithesis

The stage where the oppressed group revolts against the thesis, exacerbating contradictions.

Synthesis

The new agreement reached by society, which then becomes the thesis of the next epoch.

Five Epochs of Historical Materialism

Primitive Communalism, Ancient (Slave Owning), Feudalism, Capitalism, and Communism.

Mode of Production (MOP)

The organization of production in a given epoch, such as wage-based labor in capitalism.

Relations of Production (ROP)

How people relate to each other in a particular epoch, defined by ownership of means of production.

MEOPS / FOPS

Means and forces of production, including Capital, Entrepreneurship, Land, Labour, and technical knowledge.

Primitive Communalism

A classless society with communal ownership and a subsistence economy.

Feudalism (Marxist Epoch)

An epoch characterized by Lords and Serfs, with an agricultural mode of production.

Capitalism (Marxist Epoch)

A two-class economic system where the bourgeoisie (ruling class) exploit the proletariat (subject class).

Communism

An ideology aiming for a classless, stateless, religionless, and moneyless society with perfect equality.

Polarization

The widening gap between the proletariat and bourgeoisie, leading to working-class homogenization and pauperization.

Exploitation

The act of underpaying laborers so capitalists can generate surplus value and profit.

Alienation

Estrangement from productive activity, products, fellow workers, and human potential under capitalism.

Ruling Class Ideology

Norms, values, and beliefs of the ruling class reproduced via the superstructure to maintain dominance.

False Consciousness

Acceptance of an oppressive capitalist situation as normal and natural, blinding masses to exploitation.

Class Consciousness

Full awareness of the true situation and exploitation, replacing false consciousness and uniting workers.

Proletariat Revolution

The final rebellion of the working class against the bourgeoisie to establish communism.

Superstructure

Non-economic institutions and values (education, religion, family, law) shaped by the economic base.

Economic Base (Substructure)

The economy and production relations (MEOPS, ROPS) that shape the superstructure.

Critiques of Marxism

Views that Marx is economically deterministic, ignores the middle class, assumes a homogenous working class, and has a utopic view.