Marxism

Structural Approach

Marx - Believes in a structural approach whereby the structure of capitalism affects the behaviour of individuals. The individual is seen as less important than the social structure of society. This is because Marx argues that individuals are a product of the class relationships within capitalism.

Economic Base, super structure model

Marx -

1. The Economic Base – This determines everything in society. It consists of the means of production (land, factories needed to make goods) and also the relations of production – the relationship between those involved in production (owners/share holders) and the relationship between the owners and the non-owners (workers)

2. The Superstructure – This includes society’s institutions, such as family, education etc. The ideology (ideas and beliefs) within these were fundamentally determined by the economic system, or by the ruling class (bourgeoisie). Therefore, culture and socialisation are merely a product of the ruling class, who pass their ideology onto the masses.

Class based conflict

Marx - Believed that society was based on two social classes: Ruling class (bourgeoisie) who produced the dominant ideology and the working class (proletariat) who were the receivers of this ideolog

ideological state apparatus

Althusser - Argues that the institutions form an Ideological State Apparatus (ISA) within the superstructure of society who are responsible for socialising the working class to accept that inequality is natural, and to legitimate class inequality – therefore it is just seen as a ‘normal’ part of society. So, the ruling class (which form the economic base) maintain their exploitation by brainwashing the working class by using the institutions that exist in the superstructure.

False needs

Marcuse - Marxists argue that capitalist ideology shapes the way of life of a society – its culture. The use of the agents of socialisation, such as the media, reinforce and legitimate this ideology, such as that we should buy material goods as these are seen as ‘making us happy’. Marcuse (1964) calls these ‘false needs’ as we don’t need these material goods, but just want them, however we are told that we need them through advertising.

Marxism - Role of Family

Zaretsky - Marxists argue that socialisation benefits the interests of the ruling class/bourgeoisie. Zaretsky (1976) highlights this by giving the example that the family instils capitalist values, such as obedience, respect for authority which are useful to the capitalist ruling class to maintain dominance. The learning of these values ensure that individuals can be exploited later in life but will not necessarily understand that they are being exploited due to the ideology that they have been taught through primary socialisation within the family

Marxism - Role of education

Althusser - Argues that the role of education as an agent of socialisation is dominated by the hidden curriculum. The hidden curriculum is not taught formally but is taught informally to students. Marxists believe that a ruling class ideology is taught through the hidden curriculum which encourages acceptance of the capitalist system and also conformity.

Marxism - Role of media

Miliband - The ruling class use the media to transmit dominant/capitalist ideology to the proletariat. This can create a harmful mass culture. We learn our class identities through the media. The media is the new ‘opium of the people’

Marxism - Role of media - Popular culture

Marsh & Keating - ‘Popular culture is a false culture devised and packaged by capitalism to keep the masses content’

Marxism - Role of media - false needs

Marcuse - Argues that popular culture, such as TV and advertising has had a negative effect on culture because as it creates ‘false needs’ (such as buying non-essential material goods) and discourages critical thought, such as realising and retaliating to the social inequalities caused by capitalism.

Neo-Marxism - Dual consciousness

Gramsci - Suggested that individuals in a capitalist society possessed a ‘dual consciousness’. In part, they saw the world through the ideology of the ruling class, but also through their everyday experience of low wages,poor working conditions and their own exploitation, helped them see through ideology and realise that society was not fair.

Neo-Marxism - Counterculture

Paul Willis - “The Lads” created a counter-school subculture which was in opposition to the values of meritocracy that was being taught in their school. This demonstrates that the working class are active in the construction of their experience.