Marxism/Neo-marxism

What is meant by structural conflict theory in the perspective of Marxists?

Society is a structure that shapes and determines our behaviour. society operates on a conflict rather than a consensus and this conflict is based on economic resources and the division of two social classes.

What is the superstructure and how is it enforced?

Capitalism, all the institutions in a society such as family, education, the media etc, maintain a false class consciousness and produce and spread ruling class ideology.

What is the infrastructure of society?

The economy- production profit power that is controlled by the minority and determines everything.

What is a strength of classic marxism?

Marx explains how the economic system of capitalism works and how it emerged. It explains class inequality which is still the main source of inequality.

What are the weaknesses of classic Marxism?

• simplistic one dimensional view of inequality, seeing class as the only division which feminists criticise for ignoring gender inequality

• the two class model is too simplistic. postmodernists argue that this is now outdated as society is more fragmented with now a middle class and an underclass

• class is a less powerful structure now e.g. due to social mobility via social policies

• Marx predicted that the proletariat would become class conscious and as a result there would be a revolution. this hasnt happened on the scale he hoped for. Neo marxists explain why this is.

What are the features of Neo marxism and who are the main two writers?

• explains why the predicted revolution hasnt happened

• develops Marx’s ideas

• humanistic marxism (Antonio Gramsci) and structural marxism (Louis Althusser)

According to Gramsci, why did the predicted revolution never occur?

Because Marx underestimated the power of ideology in preventing change and he underestimated the awareness of the proletariat of their exploitation.

What did Gramsci mean by hegemony?

Hegemony means the dominance of the ruling class in society due to winning the consent of the masses. this is seen in advanced capitalist societies and is used by the ruling class to maintain their economic dominance. if the proletariat does not consent coercion is used.

What is a dual consciousness?

When the proletariats are aware of their own exploitation but choose to accept it as they have been socialised into the dominant ideology.

According to Gramsci what are the two reasons why a revolution is unlikely to happen.

Due to hegemony (the consent of the masses) obtained by the ruling class and a dual consciousness.

When can a revolution only occur?

Only when the proletariat construct a counter hegemonic bloc (a real working alternative to the way society should be run in the future)

And when this is led by an organic intellectual who is a class conscious leader willing to unite a revolutionary political party to really make change happen.

How did Althusser contribute to Marxist theories?

He differentiated between ideological state apparatus (soft power e.g. education or family) and repressive state apparatus (hard power e.g. the army). These two powers ensure the economic dominance of the ruling class

What is a strength of Neo marxism?

Gives a broader understanding of power as it moves beyond purely economic determinism and introduces ideological cultural and political factors into its explanations.

What are the weakness of Neo marxism?

• underestimates the coercive power of the ruling class and state institutions to maintain dominance and suppress dissent

• too abstract- lacks empirical evidence