Neo Marxism

• What has led many Marxists to reject economic determinism?

  The absence of a revolution in the West
• What have Marxists tried to explain since Marx's death?

  Why capitalism has persisted and how it might be overthrown
• What are the two broad approaches that have arisen questioning Classical Marxism?

  1. Humanistic Marxism
  2. Structural Marxism
• What does Humanistic Marxism reject?

  Economic determinism as an explanation of social change
• What did Antonio Gramsci believe about the economy's importance?


  It should not have overriding importance in society
• What is the concept of relative autonomy in Gramsci's theory?

  Superstructures have their own power over classes
• How did Gramsci describe the power of the ruling class?

  Through the concept of Hegemony
• What does Gramsci's dual consciousness refer to?

  Influence of ruling-class ideology and material conditions
• What must the working class do to undermine ruling-class hegemony?

  Construct a counter-hegemonic bloc
• What is a criticism of Gramsci's theory?

  Over-emphasizing ideas and ideology's role
• What do Structural Marxists like Althusser reject?

  Classical Marxism's economic base-superstructure model
• How does Althusser's model differ from Marx's?

  It includes three interrelated levels of society
• What does Althusser mean by 'relative autonomy'?

  Each level in society has a degree of freedom
• What are the two types of state apparatuses Althusser identifies?

  Repressive state apparatuses and ideological state apparatuses
• What do repressive state apparatuses do?

  Coerce the working class into compliance
• What do ideological state apparatuses manipulate?

  Working classes into accepting capitalism
• How does Althusser view human agency?

  We are products of social structures
• What do Gouldner and Thompson criticize about Althusser's view?

  It ignores active struggles of the working class
• What is a conclusion about Marxist theories?

  • They provide useful insights into society
  • They are ideologically driven
  • They are reductionist and overlook competing theories
• What do postmodernists criticize about Marxist theories?

  • They claim Marxism is a totalising theory
  • Rival narratives should be considered
  • They argue for a full account of social life
• What is one exam question related to Marxist theories?

  Outline and explain two internal criticisms
• What is another exam question related to Marxist theories?

  Outline and explain two criticisms of Classical Marxism
• What is a third exam question related to Marxist theories?

  Evaluate the view that Marxist theories are irrelevant