Marxism - Theory and Methods

Key assumptions:

- False consciousness - institutions

To a Marxist, institutions teach you that you're equal but you're not ]

Class inequality - bourgeoisie and proletariat

• allocating roles
• conflict
• structural theory
• macro, top down
• capitalism based on private ownership - free market
• expoitation
• RC have control over governments
• profit (surplus value) taken by bourgeoisie (employers)
• dominant ideology - maintained and promoted by super-structures of society - provide false consciousness
• Marx thought workers who are exploited and alienated would develop class consciousness and start a revolution - leading to a communist state

Strengths:

• class divisions
  • caste system, India
  • homeless
  • benefits + welfare state/dependency
• zero hour contracts
  • exploitation
  • alienated
  • Labour wanted them abolished in GE2017
• trade unions with little power
  • govenrment's hold power
  • Marx's rebellion

Weaknesses:

• communism doesn't work
  • china
    • private ownership
    • poverty
    • sweatshops (Nike)
• ignore choice
  • implies determinism by class
  • Alan Sugar
• ignores social mobility
  • Alan Sugar
    • born poor
    • moved through…