Introduction To Sociology - Marxism PDF

SOC111 INTRODUCTION TO SOCIOLOGY SOCIOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVES / THEORIES MARXISM DR. TASHA SAIWAK-WILLIAM  OBJECTIVES Upon completion of this lesson, students would be able to: 1. Identify and describe Marxism Theoretical Perspective. 2. Discus...

SOC111 INTRODUCTION TO SOCIOLOGY SOCIOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVES / THEORIES MARXISM DR. TASHA SAIWAK-WILLIAM  OBJECTIVES Upon completion of this lesson, students would be able to: 1. Identify and describe Marxism Theoretical Perspective. 2. Discuss how a Marxists Society is Structured. 3. Discuss how a Marxist Society Functions. 4. Apply the Marxism Perspective to real world examples.  MARXISM PERSPECTIVE (CONFLICT THEORY Karl Marx “The oppressed are allowed once every few years to decide which particular representatives of the oppressing class are to represent and repress them.” “The philosophers have only interpreted the world, in various ways. The point, however, is to change it.” (Tombstone) Karl Marx lived in Europe in the early period of industrialization where most people were poor and he observed how the new industrial class exploited the workers.  MARXIST PERSPECTIVE (CON'TD) Marx argued that the situation in which one group who owned the wealth of society used their economic power to take advantage of those who were economically less fortunate. (This existed from historical / colonial times) He recognize that people must work together to produce the goods and services necessary for life. In the Capitalist Economies, workers are required to work long hours for relatively low wages and sometimes in inhumane conditions. Marx saw this as unfair to the workers as they are denied the opportunity to enjoy a decent standard of living Workers are referred to as Proleriats. Marx recognized that in all Capitalist Societies there is the Bourgeoisie or the Ruling Class, who control the means of production, As much, all profits generated from these businesses belong to them. (The less the pay the workers, the more they keep for themselves.)  MARXIST PERSPECTIVE (CON'TD) Marx believed that society is a totality made up of institutions, including the family, education, religion, the government, legal and political systems, the economy). He categorized these institutions as Superstructure and Infrastructure. Superstructure: (family , education, religion, government, legal and political systems) Infrastructure: (The Economic System) The Economic Institution exerts power over the other institutions in a capitalist society) The Bourgeoisie gets their power not only from their control of the economy but also through their control of the institutions that makes up the Superstructure.  MARXIST PERSPECTIVE (CON'TD) Marx argued that the material base of society (infrastructure) creates all ideas and knowledge which are taken up by the Superstructure, which passes them off as their own. The proletariats are targeted and they live a state of false class consciousness. (Members of the working classes are blind to their exploitation and real interests and their attention is diverted away from the true source of their oppression). MARXIST PERSPECTIVE (CON'TD) Individuals who lived and work in a capitalist society are likely to loose their sense of what is important overtime. Marx claimed that, once this has occurred, these individuals will have become alienated (people have become passive and dehumanized) from society. Four (4) Types of Alienation (From): a) Nature b) Themselves c) Work d) Other People Marx predicted that, as capitalist societies become more advanced, the bourgeoisie become increasingly wealthier and less caring towards the working class.  MARXIST PERSPECTIVE (CON'TD) Marx offered the view that workers, through their affiliation with trade unions and with the help of intellectuals, would recognize that the capitalist were the source of their exploitation and that when the workers became aware, they would become a class in itself. Workers will develop a desire to overthrow their oppressors and become class conscious. Trade Unions will unite all workers , emerging a powerful force. This would lead to an intensification of conflict between workers and employers and if properly managed would escalate into a revolution in which the working class would overthrow the ruling class and emerge victoriously.  HOW IS A MARXIST SOCIETY STRUCTURED? In a Marxism, all socieities , except the most simple are strategied into distinctive groups and classes. In modern-day capitalist socities, there are two (2) major classes: 1) Bourgeoisie (the owners of the capital) 2) Proleriats (a class of wage laborers) The relationship that exists between these two groups is based on exploitation, as the bourgeoisie or ruling class uses its wealth and power to take advantage of the working class , which sells its labour to make a living.  HOW DOES A MARXIST SOCIETY FUNCTION? The presence of the two (2) competing groups in society (the more powerful with the less powerful) sets a stage of Class Conflict. (Each group pursuing their own interest) The struggle for control by the ruling class and the struggle for survival by the working class together results in a situation where groups are in never ending conflict with each other. Therefore, Marx reasoned that capitalist socieities function mainly through class conflict.  REAL WORLD EXAMPLES Rastafarian movement opposing the legal system, especially with the criminalization of its sacred herb. Anti-vaccinators opposing the harsh penalties placed by governments upon persons who do not wish to be vaccinated.  WEAKNESSES OF MARXISM It offers communism as a solution to the evils of Capitalism. Evidence from existing communist societies does not seem to bear this out , as within some of these communist socities ther have been allegation of equalities. The impression given that the members of the proletariat will be brought together by oppression and discrimination, becoming a class of itself and challenging the ruling class. (The likelihood of a united working class is far fetched because the working class is to broken which would prevent them from being united). Members split from each other so class solidarity is weakened.