Marxism

• Marxism

  A key conflict theory in sociology, named after its founder Karl Marx, that believes capitalist society is based on inequalities between the bourgeoisie (ruling capitalist class) and the proletariat (working class)
• Five epochs defined by Marxist philosophy

  • Primitive communism
  • Ancient society
  • Feudalism
  • Capitalist society
  • Advanced communism
• Bourgeoisie


  The capitalist class that owns the means of production and exploits the proletariat
• Proletariat

  The working class that sells its labor to the bourgeoisie
• The bourgeoisie exploits the proletariat by paying them less than they deserve to keep profits high
• Economic base

  The bourgeoisie's control over the means and relations of production
• Superstructure

  The institutions and structures in society (e.g. government, religion, education) that reproduce bourgeoisie ideas and values
• False class consciousness

  The proletariat's delusion that their exploitative working conditions are normal
• Alienation

  The disengagement from work, community, and sense of belonging caused by the capitalist structure
• Marx believed a proletariat revolution would overthrow the bourgeoisie and create an equal society
• New forms of Marxism

  • Humanistic Marxism
  • Scientific Marxism
• Marxism

  A key conflict theory in sociology, named after its founder Karl Marx. It discusses several aspects of social life including economics, politics, education and culture.
• Marxism

  • Believes capitalist society is based on inequalities between the 'bourgeoisie' (ruling capitalist class) and 'proletariat' (working class)
  • Sees society as being in constant conflict between these social classes
• The five epochs defined by Marxist philosophy

  • Primitive communism
  • Ancient society
  • Feudalism
  • Capitalist society
  • Advanced communism
• Bourgeoisie

  Owns the means of production and controls the wealth of the country
• Proletariat

  Sells its time and labour to the bourgeoisie for money
• Bourgeoisie exploits the proletariat

  By paying them less than they deserve to keep profits high
• Economic base and superstructure

  The bourgeoisie controls the means and relations of production, giving them control over the whole economy. This 'economic base' then determines the 'superstructure' of institutions like government, religion, education etc. which reproduce bourgeois ideas and values.
• False class consciousness

  The proletariat does not realise its exploitation because it believes its exploitative working conditions are normal
• Alienation

  A disengagement from work, community, and a sense of belonging, which is a necessary and intentional result of capitalist society
• Marx believed that once the proletariat realised its position, a revolution would occur and capitalism would be abolished
• Strengths of traditional Marxism

  • Advocated for social and economic change
  • Concepts can help understand past revolutions
  • Institutions still use ideological control to promote capitalist agenda
• Weaknesses of traditional Marxism

  • Ignores influence of other factors like ethnicity, religion, gender
  • Communism has not fared well historically
  • Too idealistic about total social class equality
  • Overly simplistic view of society
• Hegemony

  The domination of one group or class over another through the ideological leadership of society (Gramsci's humanistic Marxism)
• Counter-hegemony

  Proletarian intellectuals forming their own cultural hegemonic control to challenge bourgeois ideology (Gramsci's humanistic Marxism)
• Althusser's scientific Marxism

  There are three levels of control in society - economic, political and ideological. The bourgeoisie controls all three to uphold capitalism. The state uses 'repressive' and 'ideological' apparatuses to enforce this control.
• Marxism


  A key conflict theory in sociology, named after its founder Karl Marx
• Marxism


  • Believes capitalist society is based on inequalities between the bourgeoisie (ruling capitalist class) and proletariat (working class)
  • It is a conflict theory as it sees society in constant conflict between these social classes
• Economy


  The most important aspect of society according to Marx
• Bourgeoisie


  The capitalist class that controls the economy and exploits the proletariat
• Proletariat


  The working class that sells its labor to the bourgeoisie
• Means of production


  Land, materials, factories, and equipment for production owned by the bourgeoisie
• Relations of production


  The way the bourgeoisie organizes the workers involved in production
• Superstructure


  All other institutions and structures in society like government, religion, education, and family that reproduce bourgeoisie ideas and values
• False class consciousness


  The proletariat's delusion that their exploitative working conditions are normal
• Alienation


  The disengagement from work, community, and sense of belonging created by the capitalist structure
• Revolution


  The proletariat's overthrow of the bourgeoisie to create an equal society
• Marxism is also called traditional or classic Marxism
• Marxism vs Communism


  Marxism is the philosophical and sociological perspective, while communism refers to the political regimes of the 20th century
• Five epochs defined by Marxist philosophy

  • Primitive communism
  • Ancient society
  • Feudalism
  • Capitalist society
  • Advanced communism