Marxism

Overview

Marxism presents a structural conflict approach 🏗, focusing on class struggle ⚔ in capitalist societies.

Society is divided into two main social classes:

• Bourgeoisie (ruling class) 👑 who own production means, and

• Proletariats (working class) 🧑‍🤝‍🧑 who are exploited for labor.

Key Areas/Themes

1. Structural Conflict Theory

2. Class Conflict and Exploitation

3. Ideology and Socialisation

Key Area 1: Structural Conflict Theory

Concept:

Marxism explains that individuals are shaped by class relationships within capitalism.

Economic Base:

• Represents the means of production (land, factories) and relations of production. 🏭

• Dictates social structure and behavior based on class position.

Superstructure:

• Includes institutions (family, education) that propagate ruling class ideology. 🏠✏

• Culture and socialisation spread dominant beliefs from the bourgeoisie.

Surplus Value:

• Workers produce more value than they are compensated, creating profit for the bourgeoisie 💰.

• This leads to exploitation, as workers get less value than their labor produces.

Direction of Influence:

• Working class experiences false class consciousness 🧠, unaware of exploitation.

• The superstructure maintains capitalist values and the working class’s commitment to the system.

Evaluations of Key Area 1

• Interactionist Critique: Individuals can create identity rather than being solely shaped by ideology. 🤔

• Functionalist View: Emphasizes collective agreement and shared values 👫.

• Weberian Perspective: Ideas (e.g., Protestantism) also influence capitalism 🎩.

Key Area 2: Class Conflict and Exploitation

Concept:

Society is divided into classes where the ruling class exploits the working class.

Class Conflict:

• Ongoing struggle for profits vs. higher wages, leading to conflict 🔥.

Surplus Value:

• Difference between production cost and sale price leads to wealth inequalities.

Marx's Solution:

• Overthrow capitalism to establish a fairer communist society where workers unite 💪.

False Consciousness:

• Workers accept exploitation due to the dominant ideology propagated by institutions.

Evaluations of Key Area 2

• Improvement Debate: Marxism overlooks capitalistic advancements in living standards. 🏡

• Determinism Critique: Reduces complexities to class conflict, ignoring factors like gender and ethnicity. 🌍

• Feminist Perspectives: Gender inequalities may be more pressing than class conflicts 👩‍🏫.

Key Area 3: Ideology and Socialisation

Socialisation Process:

Marxists view socialisation as ideological indoctrination promoting capitalist meritocracy, misleading the working class.

Agents of Socialisation:

• Family: Instills obedience and respect for authority, preparing children for exploitation.

• Education:

  • Hidden curriculum promotes conformity and acceptance of social hierarchies. 📚

• Media: Acts as a tool for capitalist ideology, fostering 'false needs' through commercialism 📺.

• Religion:

  • Maintains class oppression through promises of an afterlife and obscures exploitation. ⛪

Evaluations of Key Area 3

• Awareness of Inequality: Recognition of inequalities exists, but actions for change are hindered.

• Cultural Resistance: Some workers resist ideologies, forming counter cultures.

• Alternative Critiques: Ideology propagates patriarchal systems rather than only capitalist values.