Neo-Marxist explanations of inequality

What is neo-Marxism?

An updated Marxism. Marxism failed as a predictive theory so neo-Marxists are concerned with ideology and access to power.

What do they believe causes inequality?

They still agree that capitalism creates and maintains inequality but argue that inequality is more complex today and involved culture, power, politics and global systems.

How does Braverman classify social class?

Differentiated between large-scale bourgeoisie and small-scale bourgeoisie but most significantly recognised upper middle class occupations as an ‘intermediate’ class between bourgeoisie and proletariat

What does Erik Olin Wright explain?

Recognised ‘contradictory class locations’ from Marx’s dichotomous view of class:

Managers and supervisors (Control the workforce but are employees and subject to capitalism), The self employed (aren’t wage salves but vulnerable to exploitation), Small employers (‘small capitalists’ but vulnerable to power of larger capitalists), Semi-autonomous workers (exercise considerable control over their work activities but also within production)

Neo Marxist explanation of Ethnic inequality Stuart hall - policing the crisis

Ethnic minorities became scape goats for mugging by the media to ignore failures of governments and increasing inequality, working class encouraged to dislike West Indian migrants and view them as criminal.

Ralph Miliband

Capitalism, government, or the state controls peoples lives. Protection of capitalism is essential to these. State is a ruling class tool which requires inequality to survive. WC are unaware of the importance of socialism as meritocracy and equality is a myth because those who rule are from wealthy backgrounds

Neo Marxist explanations of gender inequality

• Zaretsky (1976) the family supported capitalism as was refuge for miserable men and women reproduce the new gen of workers, pregnancy, unpaid domestic labour and unit of consumption

Neo-Marxist explanations of age inequality?

Althusser (1971) state pensions and child benefits presented the most vulnerable from feeling the full effects of capitalism in their class position

Phillipson (2010) suggested that state pensions were inadequate and left the elderly dependent on additional state welfare unless they had an occupational pension

Neo-Marxist explanations of class inequality

Gramsci - Bourgeoisie were able to rule society and make inequality acceptable because they controlled the economy. They created situations whereby majority of people agree to their ideas without question e.g RC can rule society because they are superior to the poor.