Marxism and Structural theories

Gramsci- optimistic/positive view- difference between him and Althusser (pessimistic view)

• Humanistic Marxism

• Used Marx’s earlier works. focused on hegemony- the ruling class maitains power by gaining consent. Its ideas become accepted as ‘common sense’.

• This dominance can be challenged through alternative ideas and counter-hegemony (e.g from intellectuals or social movements).

• Capitalism will end when ordinary people have an uprising and form a movement to end it. His view allows more room for resistance and change.

• Inspired sociologists such as:

  • Taylor, Walton and Young- crime can be a political act against capitalism.

Althusser

• Structural marxism- the ideological state apparatuses have complete control over society. Capitalism is maintained through structures and institutions.

• Used Marx’s later works- they were more pessimistic

• The ruling class controls the ideological level of society through ISAs such as family, education and the media.

• These institutions socialise people into accepting capitalist values, creating false class consciousness. E.g education legitimates class inequality.

• His view is more structural and deterministic- individuals have limited agency. Capitalism will end through its own instability e.g after severe economic crisis.

Methods- Bowles and Gintis’ research

The role of the education system in capitalist society is to reproduce an obedient workforce that will accept inequality as inevitable. From their own study of 237 New York high school students- they found that schools rewarded precisely the kind of personality traits that make for a submissive, compliant worker.

What are structural theories?

Structural theories behaviour is shaped by wider social structures and institutions in society, such as the economy, the education system, family, religion and the state.

• Consensus theories in sociology focus on the idea that society functions smoothly based on shred norms, values and co-operation.

• Conflict theories in sociology focus on power struggles, inequality of opportunity, and the competition between groups for resources and dominance.

Feminism- Positivism- male bias in research (malestream sociology)

Crime and Deviance- Transgressive approach to gender and crime:

• Smart is critical of what she terms as malestream criminology. She points out that feminists should take a transgressive approach to criminology, focusing on what causes harm to women. She notes that most existing theories of crime and deviance come from men, and they focus on what interests them: often violent and gang crime; male academics leading boring lives- they live vicariously through their violent, risk-taking subjects.