42 Questions
What is the limitation of the two-class system in understanding British society?
It is over-simplistic, and there are 7 different classes within British society.
What is the primary focus of Marx's system?
Economics
What is Weber's criticism of Marxism?
It completely ignores the role of ideas in social change.
What is the biggest criticism of Marxism?
The revolution that Marx said would lead to a communist society has yet to occur.
Where did Marx predict that the revolution would occur, and where did it actually occur?
Marx predicted it would occur in the most advanced capitalist societies, but it actually occurred in backward countries like Russia and Cuba.
What has been the impact of Keynesian Economics on the economy?
It has led to more government oversight of businesses and the development of welfare states.
What is the Repressive State Apparatus according to Structural Neo-Marxism?
Armies of Men, including the Police, Criminal Justice System, and military.
What has been the impact of social institutions on the bourgeoisie?
Some institutions, such as the media, have become autonomous and critical of the elite.
What are the three levels of Structural Determinism in Neo-Marxism?
Economic, Political, and Ideological
How does the ruling class maintain dominance through coercion?
The use of the army, police, and other government agencies to force other classes to accept ruling class ideology.
What is the role of 'consent' in maintaining ruling class dominance?
Using ideas and values to persuade the other classes that ruling class ideology is legitimate.
Why is ruling class hegemony never complete?
The ruling class is a minority and must create a power bloc with other groups, and the working class has a dual consciousness.
What is the defining feature of a classless society in communism?
The absence of classes and collective ownership of the means of production.
What is the role of 'organic intellectuals' in creating a counter-hegemony?
Class-conscious workers who organize themselves into a revolutionary political party to help create a counter-hegemony.
How do the proletariat benefit from their labor in a capitalist society?
They only receive the cost of subsistence, not the value of the goods they produce.
What is the function of the political level in Structural Determinism?
All forms of organization, including the RSA's, which coerce workers into a false class consciousness.
What is the concept of hegemony in Gramsci's Neo-Marxism?
The dominance of the ruling class ideology and its acceptance by the rest of society.
What is the role of the ideological level in Structural Determinism?
The ways people see themselves and the world.
What is the main limitation of Neo-Marxism, according to critics?
Under-emphasizing the role of coercive political and economic forces in holding back the formation of a counter-hegemonic bloc.
What is the main criticism of Marxism by Weber?
That it oversimplifies the causes of inequality, focusing solely on class divisions.
What is the main difference between socialism and communism?
In socialism, the means of production are owned by the government, while in communism, there is no government or state.
What is the concept of alienation in Marxist theory?
The separation of workers from the products they create and the control of their labor.
What is the main criticism of Marxism by feminists?
That it prioritizes class inequality over gender inequality.
What is the term for the working class's acceptance of the ruling class ideology in Gramsci's Neo-Marxism?
Voluntarism.
What is the key idea behind the Organic Analogy in sociology?
The key idea is that society is similar to the human body, with institutions working together to maintain social cohesion and social order.
What is the main conflict described in the Structural Conflict Approach?
The main conflict is between the classes, specifically the Bourgeoisie and the Proletariat.
What is the focus of the set of approaches that see society as a conflict between men and women?
The focus is on ways that women are oppressed/disadvantaged by various social institutions and the means by which equality can be achieved.
What is the main idea of the Micro Approach in sociology?
The main idea is that the individual influences their society through their interactions with others and social institutions.
Who is considered the 'father of modern sociology'?
Auguste Comte is considered the 'father of modern sociology'.
What is the main feature of the Broad Approach in sociology?
The main feature is that it sees society in a more diverse and less structured way, with individuals having more choice and shaping their reality and culture.
What is the role of social institutions in the Functionalism approach?
Social institutions work together to maintain social cohesion and social order.
What is the focus of the Interactionism approach in sociology?
The focus is on how individuals interact with each other and with social institutions.
What is the primary goal of Integration specialist institutions in society?
To reduce conflict in society
What is the purpose of Tension Management in society?
To provide opportunities to release tension in a safe way
Who is the key thinker who criticized Parsons' assumptions in Functionalism?
Robert K. Merton
What is the criticism of Functionalism that suggests not all social institutions are indispensable?
Indispensability
What is the term for the intended function of a social institution?
Manifest Function
What is the unintended function of a social institution?
Latent Function
What is the criticism of Functionalism that suggests social institutions are not tightly linked?
Functional Unity
What is the criticism of Functionalism that suggests not all institutions perform a positive function for society?
Universal Functionalism
What is the example of a social institution that can be dysfunctional for its members?
Domestic abuse in the family
What is the role of education in promoting social harmony, according to Integration specialist institutions?
Creating a sense of belonging
Test your understanding of the key features of different societal systems, including communist, feudal, capitalist, and socialist societies. Identify the characteristics that define each system, from collective ownership to class structures.
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