Theories of INEQUALITY: NEO-MARXISM

To take into account social change, Karl Marx's theories have been updated. Marxism has sometimes been used in conjunction with other theories such as Interactionalism. These theories can all be loosely described as Neo-Marxist. What they have in common is the idea that society is based on conflict between various social groups and that they are all critical of Capitalism.

Neo-Marxism emerged as it became clear that Marxism had failed as a predictive theory: that is; working class people had not developed class consciousness and created the revolution Marx had claimed they would. Instead of rebelling against the system, the middle class has just grown and increased. Whilst Marxists would believe that the ruling class control the content of the media, Neo Marxists claim that the media is used as a form of mind control of the poor and that we do not challenge it. In terms of social classes, Marxism predicted that classes would polerise into two groups and there would only be small class differences. On the other hand, Neo-Marxists are concerned with the growth of the middle class exploiting the working class. It is seen that the middle to ruling class prevent a revolution.

Althusser proposed the view that society consists of two forms of social organisation that oppress the poor. The state is a 'Repressive State Apparatus' (RSA), which dominates the working class through the exercise of power and violence (the army, the police force - "do not challenge the system, do what we say!"). The second form of oppression ensures inequality exists in society. This is the 'Ideological State Apparatus' (ISA) which consists of institutions such as the family, the media, education ("work hard, be the best, earn money") and religion. These organisations reinforce the role of the Capitalist class through the creation and maintenance of ideas which train people to think uncritically about Capitalism. However, Gouldner and Thompson criticise Althusser for ignoring the fact that…