- Neo-Marxism- refers to any theory that aims to update, extend or develop
traditional Marxist theory
- Neo-Marxism emerged as it became clear that Marxism had failed as a predicative
theory- working-class people had not developed class consciousness ad created the
revolution as Marx had claimed they would
Neo-Marxism and economic determinism
- Economic determinism- economic relationships between capitalists and working
class is reason for social inequality
- Neo-Marxists reject economic determinism-look at ideas such as ideology and access
to power in order to explain structural inequality
- Many neo-Marxists have focused their research on the ownership and control of the
media
Gramsci
- Argued that bourgeoisie were able to rule society and make inequality acceptable
because they controlled both economy and also creation of ideas about society
- Ruling class create a situation whereby the majority of people agree to their ideas
without question (do this through institutions e.g. education and religion)-
HEGEMONY
- Criticism: Strinati- too simple and ignores complexity of society
Althusser
- Society consists of two forms of sociological organisations that oppress the poor:
1. Repressive State Apparatus- dominates from physical force / violence- police,
military etc.
2. Ideological State Apparatus- reinforce rule of capitalist class through creation
and maintenance of ideas which teach people to think unquestionably about
capitalism (family, education, media)
- Criticism: little specific evidence to support- Althusser himself suggested these ideas
didn’t explain inequality completely
Frankfurt School
- Interested in importance of media and propaganda in influencing people’s attitudes
- Suggested media had turned culture into commodity that could be bought and sold
in the same way as a manufactured product
- Acts as a drug, teaching poor to accept ideas of the ruling class uncritically
Nicos Poulantzas
- Argued that capitalism did not deliberately try and control society but instead
obtained consent of some groups in order to control and govern them
- By giving working people some demands (e.g. minimum wage / health and safety
laws) so workers believe that capitalists are on their side
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