3.4 - Marxism

• What is marxism?

  • a structural conflict theory that has a fundamental rejection of capitalism
• What is historical materialism?

  • proposed by Karl Marx
  • materialism is the nucleus to human survival - it provides individuals with food, clothing and shelter
  • It is used to show change and is driven by factors such as food, shelter and money
  • such characteristics in a modern society can be used to show the division of labour that occurs between the bourgeoisie and proletariat
  • every aspect of society's infrastructure is dictated by capitalism
• What is historical materialism?

  • Marx located historical change in the rise of class societies and the way humans labor together to make their life
• What are the types of society as proposed by Marx?

  1. ANCIENT SOCIETY - based on the exploitation of slaves tied to their owners
  2. FEUDAL SOCIETY - based on the exploitation of serfs legally tied to their land
  3. CAPITALIST SOCIETY - based on the exploitation of free wage labourers
• What are the steps of capitalism?

  • proposed by marx
  • The proletariat are legally separated from the means of production and sell their labour power to bourgeoise in return for wages
  • The means of production is in the hands of international cooperation
  • Competition forces capitalists to pay labourers low wages in order to profit and strive in industry
• What is exploitation (marx)?

  • marx argued that the bourgeoise control society's surplus product which maintains the capitalist society - done through the exploitation of free wage labourers
  • leads to a society of polarisation - capitalism becomes dominant
• What is class consciousness?

  • the notion that the proletariat need to stop becoming a class in itself but a class for itself
  • because of the exploitation, they develop conflict and are aware they need to overthrow capitalism
• How is hegemony maintained (Gramsci)?

  1. COERCION - the army, police, prisons and courts of the capitalist state force other classes to accept its rule
  2. CONSENT - the ruling class create ideas and values to persuade the proletariat to accept their rule
• Why is ruling class hegemony never complete?

  1. The ruling class are a minority and have to make ideological compromises for other classes
  2. Gramsci rejects economic determinism as a reason of change (mass unemployment)
  3. The proletariat may construct a counter hegemony bloc to win the leadership of society
• What are the different levels that make up society? (Althusser)

  1. POLITICAL LEVEL - through government and organisations in charge of society
  2. IDEOLOGICAL LEVEL - known as ISA which is reinforced by media, education and religion
  3. ECONOMIC LEVEL - through economy and production of goods
• Who criticises marxism?

  • the frankfurt school
• Frankfurt School Criticisms -

  1. INSTRUMENTAL - Adorno says that Marx failed to explore people's motivations for accepting capitalism. They work hard in order to achieve money
  2. MASS CULTURE - Marcuse says Marx ignores the impact of the media on capitalism and how the media controls population by keeping them entertained
  3. OPPRESSION OF PERSONALITY - ignores the way that personalities have an effect on capitalism (work ethic)