According to Marxists, the role of the education system is to provide workers for every part of the economy. Althussers argues the bourgeoisie uses ideology to control people. As it wins over people’s minds and avoids having to use force to control society. This happens through two main ways firstly repressive state apparatus - this is where the ruling class maintain control by force and enforcing the order of society e.g. using the police and courts.
Whilst both functionalist and Marxists both see education as serving the ‘needs’ of industrial and or capitalist society, and view education as a powerful influence on students, they both have different views of the main role Marxists would argue that the education system reproduces existing social class inequalities, and passes them on from one generation to the next by giving the impression that those who fail in education do so because of their lack of ability and effort, and have only themselves to blame. In this way, people are encouraged to accept the positions they find themselves in after schooling, even though it is disadvantages arising from social class background that create inequalities in education success. Althusser argues that the education system serves the interests of capitalism by arguing that to prevent the working class from rebelling against their exploitation the ruling class wins their hearts and minds by persuading them to accept the ruling class ideology. They do this through a number of ideological state apparatuses such as the family, media, law, religion and the education system. Bowles and Gintis further reinforce this idea in their ‘schooling in capitalist America’ where they suggest that the workforce is reproduced through the hidden curriculum of schooling and the correspondence, or very close similarity between the social relationships at school and at work, and thought the role of the education system in legitimizing or justifying inequality.
He is very critical of those who hoarded their surplus riches while living and only wait until their death to allow their amassed fortune to be used for public goods. Ultimately, it is his belief that the wealthy have a responsibility of utmost importance to society in making sure that the community also get the benefits of a continuously improving society. It is their responsibility, for they are the best equipped and have the means to do so. This stems from Carnegie’s acknowledgment of a justified inequality because of social Darwinism. That’s
Therefore, religion is a conservative force. For example, religion prevents a false class conscience which prevents the working class from realising their true potential and keeps them oppressed. As a result, religion prevents a true class conscience where the working class realise they are being exploited. Moreover, religion acts a form of “compensation” for the working class as the belief in God and heaven offers the working class compensation for the misery the experience through capitalism. Marxists argue that religion promises us happiness, but this is an illusion hiding the truth; true happiness can only be found in a revolution.
Marx believes that we now live in a capitalist society, which is based on divisions in society. He labels the two classes, the capitalist class the bourgeoisie and the class of the labourers the proletariat. Marx believes that this type of society is unequal, as the proletariat do not receive the goods that they have produced; only the cost of subsistence is received. Marx also believes that competition drives the ownership of the means of production into fewer hands, this drives smaller independent producers to become a part of the proletariat. Competition also creates companies to drive down wages, as they will wish to make their products at the lowest cost they can, this alienating the working class and causing them to become impoverished.
"The Hunger Games" by Suzanne Collins portrays a futuristic society set in a post-apocalyptic world; the novel exemplifies the perversion of Karl Marx's theory known as Marxism and the struggles between social classses. Collins shows the various ways in which a communistic society can be corrupted. It is human nature, to be greedy, selfish, lazy, and decietful; this is what ultimately forces Marxism to be an impossibility. A communistic based society would have no need for government simply because each individual would be more than willing to live their life according to the laws and ideas of Marxism. There would be a much greater chance of success for communism, if the location/environment was smaller and consisted solely of those in complete non-forceful compliance.
Marx argued that social theorists and underprivileged people alike should carry out organised revolutionary action to topple capitalism and bring about a socio-economic change. Marxists argue that the key factors determining the shape of all social institutions, including the family, is the mode of production. This means who owns and controls society’s productive forces such as machinery and raw materials. Marxists believe that as the mode of production evolves, so does the family. Marx called the earliest, classless society, “primitive communism”.
He looked to overthrow the capitalist system in favour of the structuralist approach (Perry, 2009). Marxists will always argue that the most important thing is the question of how a small group of people can exploit a vast majority of the population. They would study the power and wealth and look at the importance of social class division (Fulcher, J et al, 2007). Karl Marx believed there were only two basic classes’ the middle and the working class. Marx called the middle class the Bourgeoisie as they were either land owners or the bosses of factories and controlled society.
As discussed in lecture this is an important distinction. For a social condition to be considered a social problem it must be considered harmful to society and enough people must believe that the condition can and should be changed. Libertarians take a functionalist approach to income inequality in capitalist economies, believing that in order for the economy to function there will always be people at the bottom of the totem pole. The great thing about America is the belief that with honest hard work, anyone can better
-The traditional Marxism is not to be confused with Neo-Marxism. They differ greatly in some areas. Traditional Marxism argues that religion only favors the ruling class. "It's the opium of the oppressed," meaning it acts as a force to numb the pain of oppression by promising a better life after death, making suffering virtuous and preventing change. Neo-Marxism (in sociology) includes Max Weber's understanding of social inequalities.