Marxism

What are the key concepts of Marxism?

• Conflict theory- Conflict between the ruling class (bourgeoise) and subject class (proletariat) over control of resources

• The ruling class exploits the labour of the subject class to maximise profits

• The subject class only own their labour and is looking to achieve the highest wages possible for their labour

• The ruling class owns the forces of production- materials and goods used to generate profit

Who are the key theorists?

• Marxism

  • Karl Marx

    • Stratification, religion, work

• Neo-Marxism

  • Antonio Gramsci- Humanistic Marxism

    • Religion, stratification

  • Louis Althusser- Structural Marxism

    • Education, crime, family

What did Karl Marx say?

• A society divided into two classes as a result of capitalism- proletariat and bourgeoisie

• Marx suggested that the bourgeoisie was able to maintain control as it controlled the superstructure of society

• Members of the subject class are alienated from the product of their labour

• Society would become increasingly polarised until the proletariat realised its exploitation and revolts

What did Antonio Gramsci say?

• The ruling class maintains dominance through hegemony- political and moral beliefs passed down through social institutions to justify ruling-class dominance

• Gramsci suggested subject class was aware of this- dual consciousness

• Through education, a new generation of intellectuals connected to the masses will challenge hegemonic beliefs and lead to a revolution

What did Louis Althusser say?

• Ideological state apparatus- controls the way in which individuals think, meaning less likely to challenge the ruling classes- family, education, media, religion

• Repressive state apparatus- controls through force those do not conform- police, legal system, armed forces

What are the contributions of Marxism?

• Remains an important political, economic and philosophical ideology

• Influenced democratic socialist policies to tackle social-class inequality

• Economic crises of capitalism, such as the 2008 global financial crisis, and growing inequality show Marx was right

• The process of globalisation has seen greater contraception of wealth into private hands and cultural imperialism- Marxism explains this