Marxism

Theoretical Perspectives: Marxism

Key Ideas:

• Traditional (Instrumental) and Neo-Marxist types
  
• Social class (economic - Ownership of the means of production)
  
• Class conflict
  
• Ruling class / Subject classes (Exploitative social relationships)
  
• Class consciousness and False Consciousness
  
• Social Structure (Macro approach)
  
• Institutions
  
• Alienation
  
• "Ideological State Apparatuses" (ISAs) - Althusser
  
• "Repressive State Apparatuses" (RSAs) - Althusser
  
• Hegemony
  
• Economic base (or infrastructure) and Political / Ideological superstructure
  
• Classes and class fractions
  
• Critical of Capitalism

Key Names: Marx, Althusser, Gramsci, Poulantzas, Milliband, Hall, Taylor, Walton and Young.

Key Criticisms: 

• Unscientific (the "Faith of Marxism" - Popper)
• Conspiracy theory (especially aimed at Instrumental Marxists)
  
• Communism does not appear imminent
  
• Left Functionalism (Jock Young: argues most "Marxism" is little more than form of
• Functionalism that replaces interests of "society" with "ruling class").
  
• Subjective beliefs and interpretations of individuals ignored (Weber)
  
• Economic determinism
  
• Forms of (non-economic) conflict (gender, ethnic group) ignored in favour of economic conflicts.

Key Critics:

Popper, Weber, Dahrendorf, Young ("Left Idealism"), Any New Right Theorist, Sociobiologists, Radical Feminists.