Marxism

• What is Marxism?


  • Marxism is a structural theory, believing society shapes the individual.
  • Marxism is a conflict theory, they believe society is based upon conflict between social classes of unequal power & wealth.
• What do Marxists believe about society?

  Marxists believe that society is unstable and revolutionary change is possible and that any stability in society is just because the dominant class being able to impose their will on society.
• Who was Karl Marx?

  • Karl Marx was the sociologist responsible for the Marxist theory and believed that great societal change was possible.
• What is an ideology?

  • An ideology is an agenda or way of thinking that people are pushed into believing by a ruling class to believe there lives are good/bad due to certain factors.
  • Karl Marx believed that The dominant ideas in society are the ideas of those who are economically dominant (bourgeoisie) and these ideas are spread by the help of institutions.
  • Ideology fosters a false consciousness which helps sustain class inequality, but as the class becomes more conscious, they will realise they are just ‘wage slaves’.
• How do the Super-structure & Economic Base work together to maintain the capitalist societal configuration?

  • The super structure and economic base are interdependent on one another with the economic base shaping the superstructure (funding it etc.) and the superstructure maintaining and legitimising the base.
• What is the economic-base?

  • Consists of the forces and means of production, (e.g tools, machinery and raw materials which people use to produce goods & services)
  • Also, there is the relations of production which is social relations between people involved in the production of goods and services - these make up the mode of production.
• What is the Superstructure?

  • All other institutions: The legal system, the mass media, family, education etc. All these institutions would pass on the bourgeoisie ideology.
• What is capitalism?


  • Is he system which is based on the divide between the bourgeoisie and the proletariat.
  • The proletariat having to sell their labour in return for wages, but the wage they receive is only enough to survive - wage slaves, with the vast surplus profit going to the Bourgeoisie.
  • In order to make the greatest profits the bourgeoisie pay the proletariat the lowest wages possible which keeps the proletariat in poverty.
  • Marx believes this creates class polarisation with a minority upper class and majority lower class faced off against each other .
• What is the Class society & exploitation?

  • In class societies, one class owns the means of production which means they can exploit the labour of others for their own benefit and controls societies surplus production.
• What is false-class consciousness?

  • False-class-consciousness Is when labourers are unaware of the unfairness of their conditions because they are conditioned their whole lives to believe this is how life is.
• What is class consciousness?

  • Class consciousness, is when there are those who are aware of their social situation, and are aware of the fact they are being exploited, however do not have the means and are not in the position to do anything about it as they are reliant on their wage.
• What is the state revolution & communism?

  • Karl Marx defines the state as ‘armed bodies of men’ (the police, army etc.) which exists to protect the interests of the class of owners who control it - the bourgeoisie.
  • Any class who wishes to lead a revolution must overthrow the existing ruling class.
  • Marx predicted that the proletariat class would overthrow capitalism and create a Communist society.
  • He believed it would happen in the most advanced capitalist societies first - Britain, Germany etc.
• Who was Karl Marx?

  • Karl Marx was a revolutionary socialist that change could take place to create a more equal society.
  • He believed that society was made up of two classes, the upper class bourgeoisie and the lower-class proletariat who are exploited by the bourgeoisie for monetary return.
  • -And also the proletariat are kept in the capitalist system by force and other phycological means.
• Who was Gramsci?


  • Neo-marxist
  • Theorised hypodermic syringe, which is the idea that people are influenced by the mass media in eras of opinions and views people hold.
  • He also theorised hegemony which is the dominance of one group or state over another, though doesn’t completely indoctrinate, though the ideology of the dominant party is most widespread.
• What are the strength of Marxism?

  • Emphasis on class struggle and economic inequality, which can explain many social structures and power relations.
  • In theory, it would bring many benefits and happiness to the proletariat as they are sharing the fruits of their labour.
  • Allows the proletariat to live naturally as they are no longer alienated due o not being a wage slave anymore.
• What is alienation?


  • Karl Marx believed the we have become alienated from our original purpose of creating things to meet our needs as we have no control over the forces of production and the division of labour means that workers repeat meaningless tasks.
• What is a wage slave?

  • A person that is reliant on their wage on a day to day basis and so cannot question the system that They are being exploited by.
• What are the criticisms of Marxism?

  • Marxism has been accused of ignoring the freedom of choice enjoyed by individuals.
  • Not everyone is unaware of class inequalities & some people just accept it.
  • It put too much emphasis on conflict.
  • After all of societies inequalities, peoples living conditions have improved.
  • Marxists believe all cultural activity is class based when it could also reflect religious, nationalistic & ethnic interests.