1 Marxism and Socialism

2 Learning Intentions Sociology What is a conflict theory?Be able to describe the Key features of Marxist thinking Strengths and weaknesses of Marxism Specialist terminology of Marxism Politics Identify and Explain the importance of the core features of socialism Explain the contribution of Karl Marx to Socialist thinking Explain the differences in views within socialism

3 Intro Marxism is a branch of socialism, formulated by Karl Marx.Marxism is both a sociological study of society, and a critique of the liberal democratic system, and an ideology which describes how life could be. Marxism arose from the 19th Century as a response to the growth of industrialisation – thought he ideas of communism and socialism have their rootsfar further back in history. In the politics exam you would write broadly abut socialism, but with Marx as a central figure. In the sociology exam you would write about Marxism.

4 Structuralism Marxism is a structuralist theory – which means it looks at how the whole of society is structured Within the structuralist branch of sociology, however, there is a further split between conflict and consensus theories. We looked at functionalism last week, and this is an example of a consensus theory. In functionalist thought society works through value consensus which creates harmony and integrates us all into the organic society. In conflict theories, this harmony at the core of society does not exist, instead there is an innate conflict, an exploitative relationship which creates violence and flux.

5 Similarities between Conflict and Consensus TheoriesConflict theories and Consensus theories are both examples of Structuralist theories. This means that they Look at society as a whole Look at the way society is organised on a macro level Look at society as a system of institutions They do not see individual human actions as central to the understanding of society – but they don’t rule it out either.

6 Contrasts between Conflict and Consensus theoriesConflict theories accept that cultural rules shape individual behaviour, but they claim that these rules are deliberately designed to promote or reflect the interests of some groups over others. They believe that social order cannot be naturally occurring and therefore legitimacy has to be secured through coercion or persuasion

7 Socialisation in society takes the form of indoctrination into the cultural rules and values help to reinforce the systems of exploitation and oppression Dominant groups in society will try to cover this up by attempting to persuade individuals that the cultural rules are legitimate and just. Consensus is therefore manufactured in order to maintain and secure the interests of advantaged groups. There are two main groups of conflict theories – Marxism and Feminism

8 Differences Consensus Conflict Conflict, Struggle and ChangeHarmony, Integration and Stability Value consensus Structure of society made up by social institutions Cooperation between social institutions Explains everything in terms of the way it provides harmony and security to the present system of social order Based on sharing power through a number of institutions Conflict, Struggle and Change Values Imposed by powerful groups Infrastructure and Superstructure Interdependent institutions, but not harmonious Explains some things in terms of how it causes development of the next stage of development Based on a group having all the power and oppressing other group/groups

9 Activity In pairs – discuss and write down a shared answer for the activities on page 3

10 Ideology In Marxist thinking the economic system is the base of all things, because the economic system is the means by which all human needs are met, so this is referred to as the “infrastructure”. Everything else is referred to as the “superstructure”. The superstructure is there to protect the infrastructure. We are brainwashed by the superstructure in order to maintain the capitalist infrastructure. Capitalist ideology shapes culture, and the media is used to blind us to the true reality of our situation- we experience “false class consciousness”

11 Humans both shape, and are shaped by social reality – we make choices, but those choices are determined by the society that we live in and the ideology that we have been indoctrinated with. The process of history is referred to as “dialectical materialism” – humans move society forward as there is a clash of classes – in every society throughout history there are two classes, one which is dominant and one which is subordinate. The subordinate is always oppressed by the dominant. At some point the tension increases to such a degree that there is a revolution and we move on to the next stage of human history (epoch).

12 Activity 2 - Ideology In pairs again – discuss and write down your agreed answers to the activity on page 6

13 How does it all begin? The beginning of hostiry was when humans started to control nature and stated to control the means of their own survival – so fought over territory or started to farm. Socialists share similarities with Liberals in the sense that they see history as progression forwards, shaped and powered by human beings. Conservatives on the other hand see do not see movement forward through time, with the changes that happen to society as being a positive thing – they want to try and preserve the past. Because human life and progress is dependent on the production of its means of survival, then that means that the economic base of society is central to everything.

14 Discuss and write answers to Activity 3 – p8Because there is contradiction and inequality at the core of society, this is the force which propels society forward through the process of “dialectical materialism”. Because our consciousness of society is shaped by the superstructure – the dominant ideology in society – we are blinded to the true reality of our situation, this is called false consciousness. Discuss and write answers to Activity 3 – p8

15 Alienation As civilisations have developed we have become more and more alienated from the products that we produce – this causes a deep psychological angst. There is no longer the same sense of achievement in a day’s work – people are not expressing themselves through work, the are doing jobs in order to earn wages. Work becomes a means to an end, rather than an end in itself. (similar with subjects in school, rather than just wanting to learn because education is a good in itself, it becomes about passing exams – the joy of just getting cleverer is gone) Things that have ben created by human beings are actually put in a position where they can control us – e.g. money, religion Division of labour in workplaces makes the problem of alienation even more significant

16 Activity Discuss and write down your answers to p10Further question – how does this concept of alienation contrast with the liberal view of individual liberty?

17 Class For Marx, the essential driving force of history – of “dialectical materialism” is the contradiction between classes. History will progress through 5 epochs before reaching the ultimate goal of communism Primitive Communism Slavery Feudalism Capitalism Socialism Communism

18 How does history progress?Over time the contradictions built into the economic, political and legal structures of each class society grow. Eventually they become a block on the productive forces (the productivity of human labour), holding back their development. The old ruling class try desperately to block change in order to cling on to their privileges and power. In this situation the only way that society can move forward is for the old ruling class to be removed from power and a new way of organising society to be put in its place. This means a revolution.

19 How does communism develop?A SOCIALIST society would abolish classes, allowing the collective and truly democratic running of society to reappear for the first time since hunter-gatherer society. But this would be on an entirely higher material basis: instead of living at subsistence level completely dependent on the local environment, society would be based on productive forces that are capable of providing more than enough for every person's needs. In the transition from capitalism to socialism, after a successful socialist revolution, the state would be run by the working class (and also the poor peasantry and landless masses in the many countries where they exist). But even this, though it would be a state based on workers' democracy rather than class exploitation, would eventually wither away as socialism and then a genuine communist society was built.

20 Ruling Class Ideology Ideology changes as material conditions changeThe following statements express ideas that are widely accepted today in Britain. Compare them with the examples of ideas that were widely accepted in Britain at the end of the 19th century: Now: 'Men are stronger than women' 'greed is part of human nature: you can't have an equal society' 'racism will always exist' 19th Century: 'Men are physically and mentally superior to women' 'white people are superior to Black people' 'Britain is helping its colonies by bringing civilisation to them'

21 Both sets of statements reflect the ruling class ideology that says division and greed are natural and necessary. But changes in the material conditions of British capitalism during the last 100 or so years has forced capitalist commentators to change the way that they express their ideology.

22 Activity Discuss and write answers to the activity on p13.Explain how the ruling class ideology changes in order to fit in with the economic infrastructure

23 Community At the centre of all branches of socialism is the importance of community. Human beings are seen as social creatures who have a common humanity. This idea can be traced back historically to the earliest civilisations, but remained popular even under the threat of religious and Monarchical persecution. So the socialist tradition has lived alongside developing Liberal values in the UK, in many ways socialism can be seen as diametrically opposed to the Classical Liberal tradition. In Britain Christian groups like the Levellers in the 1600’s, could be considered to have had socialist values.

24 Cooperation The idea that working together in a community is more effective than competition in achieving the common goal of progression. Cooperation enables people to harness their collective energies – where competition may breed resentment and conflict. Can you see how this differs from Liberalism? - Explain

25 Equality of Outcome The material benefits of labour should be distributed on the basis of need rather than merit or work. Karl Marx said “from each according to his ability, to each according to his need” This requires people to be motivated by moral incentives rather than material ones. Again, explain the difference between this and the core concepts of Liberalism

26 Class War Socialism analyses society in terms of the distribution of income or wealth, and social class is significant in this. Socialism is usually associated with the interests of an oppressed and exploited class, and that class is the agent of change – even social revolution. In Marx’s view the oppressed class was the Proletariat – the working class. This class would become aware of it’s position as exploited, alienated workers and would unite together to overthrow the capitalist system.

27 Common Ownership Socialists believe that the community should own all means of production. Can you see how this differs entirely from Liberalism? Private property promotes social division and selfishness. “All property is theft!”

28 Arguments within SocialismTwo major issues divide the competing traditions within socialism. First there is a difference in views over the goal for which socialists should strive. Socialists have competing ideas over what the socialist society would look like This is the divide between Communism and the Social Democratic movement.

29 Activity Discuss and write answers to the questions on p25 of the booklet

30 Arguments within SocialismThe second major cleavage is the argument over how socialism should be achieved – this is the revolution vs evolution debate. For the revolutionists violence is an inevitable part of the overthrow of the existing system. “Class conscious” proletariat would become aware of their position of oppression and rise up against the bourgeoisie and overthrow capitalism.

31 Revolution USSR China Cuba Bolivia Peru MexicoRevolution was very much the face of socialism in the 20th Century. USSR China Cuba Bolivia Peru Mexico And many more

32 In the 19th Century revolution did seem imminent – social conditions at the time for workers were extremely poor, and there were very few opportunities for advancement (social mobility)

33 View of the State OriginsLiberals see the state having theoretically emerged as a result of “Social Contract”. Socialists see the state being a product of “Historical Materialism” – the state evolves to suit the economy of the time, and to protect the mode of production ie capitalism

34 View of the State Liberals see the state as a neutral body/arbiter – responding to the interests of all citizens and acting in the common good. However revolutionary socialists have viewed the state as an agent of class oppression – it acts in the interests of capital and against those of labour. Political power reflects class interests – the state is a bourgeois state and will inevitably be biased in favour of capital

35 View of the state Liberal view of plurality – no single group or elite dominates. Government bodies act within the restraints of elections, popular control, choice and participation. For Marxists in particular the state acts as an instrument of class rule.

36 The State In the view of socialists, Liberal reforms such as universal suffrage, general elections and political reform are all a facade - a tool to keep us spellbound, to conceal the reality of class oppression.

37 Activity Read, discuss and share your answers to activities on p29