MARXISM

Definition

Marxism is a theoretical perspective that explains social and spatial phenomena in terms of economic structures, class relations, and power, focusing on how capitalism produces inequality, exploitation, and uneven development.

Ontology

Material structures are real and built by economic structures and systems like mode of production shape society (and the issues) “The economic system shapes…” . (inherently conflictual and dynamic, shaped by contradictions and processes of exploitation)

Epistemology

Critical, not neutral used to reveal underlying economic structures and power relations, rather than just describing observable facts.

Methodology

Uses abstraction and structural analysis to explain how capitalism and class relations produce inequality and social outcomes “go deeper” (that’s what she said)

Thinkers

Karl Marx, David Harvey

Type of Data

Data is used to illustrate deeper structures, often qualitative + structural

Writing style

Critical, political, explanatory uses stronger language like exploitation, domination, inequality, crisis

Deductive or Inductive

Mostly deductive (but flexible), Ex: Starts with theory (Marxism, capitalism, class) then applies it to a case