By the end of the essay, I would hope that the reader would have an understanding of how Marx’ critique of capitalism provides important insights into the dynamics and contradictions of capitalism. The Formation of Capitalism For Marx, the key-defining concept of Western societies was Capitalism and it formed the basis of all social relations. The basis of Marx’s critique of Capitalism is based on the idea of social conflict, the fight between the different classes of society for the society’s resources (Macionis & Plummer, 2012, p. 117). He stated that the system was endured and driven by profit in the way that people continued to take part in the system because
Traditional Marxists argue that our society is split into two bases- the economic base and the superstructure. The economic base is the means of production, this consists of all the factories and machines that Marx argued determined the ideas of society and shape the superstructure. The superstructure consists of the social, cultural, political and ideological parts of society, Marx argued that the superstructure maintains and legitimizes the base. Marx argued that this organisation of production and society profoundly shapes the nature of society. Marx argues that the ideologies in the superstructure cover up the inequalities of society; he argues that these ideologies justify inequality because they are not neutral and therefore they serve the interests of the ruling class.
However, Gramsci argues that the ruling class domination can be overthrown where a classless communist society will be replaced. This is where the means of production benefits the society as a whole (equality). But in order to do so, working class must become conscious with the reality of their oppression. Gramsci refers to this as hegemony. Working class can develop ideas to challenge Proletariat hegemony through ‘dual consciousness’.
Greed and inequality form a base for capitalism, best observed when discussed with competition. Competition would only become beneficial in a free market. The component that is affective in a free market economy is the flexibility to spend money and make money. He was firm with his approach and always argued that product was derived through the self-interest of the worker. The way that Adam Smith promoted his Invisible Hand theory was through his book “An inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations”.
It breeds competition and commodity fetishism, whereby people gain a desire for material things. The people in question become obsessed with personal gain and coming out on top, breaking the law is a small price to pay for the reward of success. David Gordon argues that crime is a response to the capitalist system and is found in every single part of the class structure, even if the official statistics mark it out to be a working class problem. Marxists see law making and law enforcement as serving the interest of capitalism, Chambliss argues that law to protect private property are made to protect the interest of the dominant and capitalist or ruling class because they decide as to what constitutes as crime. Laureen Snider argues that the state is reluctant to pass laws that regulate the activities of businesses or threaten their profits, there is the Marxist view that there is one law for the rich and another for the poor.
Evaluate Marxist Theories in relation with Crime and Deviance Tradition Marxism is a structural theory, formed from the ideas of Karl Marx, who argued that society is capitalist and divided into two class; the bourgeoisie and the proletariat, which causes inequality in society. These ideas are often seen out outdated or too deterministic, Neo-Marxism have been developed under the influence of traditional Marxism and other approaches such as labelling theory and interactionalist. Firstly, traditional Marxists sees crime as having a function - it serves capitalism. Therefore, it is suggested that capitalism is criminogenic as crime is inevitable in a capitalist society. The working class may be more likely to commit crime than the middle class for reasons such as the means of survival in poverty or the alienation and lack of control they have on their lives leading to frustration and committing crime.
While functionalist sociologists see society as based on value consensus, Marxist sociologists see capitalist society as based on an unequal conflict between two social classes: the capitalist class who owns the means of production and the working class, whose labour the capitalists exploit for profits. Marxists see
Postmodernist claim that we have entered a new postmodern phase which is fragmented and more diverse. Assess the contribution of Marxism to our understanding of the role of education Marxists take a class conflict approach. They see social institutions such as the education system as serving the needs of capitalism and it reproduces class inequality and plays an ideological role by persuading exploited workers that inequality is justified and acceptable. Althusser sees education as an ideological state apparatus that keeps the bourgeoisie in power as they control the state. Capitalists are able to control people’s ideas, beliefs and values and they are also able to suppress the working class via the police and courts.
Outline the postmodernist view of the role of Education Postmodernists take a diversity approach when considering the role of education. They argue that the Marxist view is outdated and that society has entered a new postmodern phase. Marxists believe that capitalism cannot function without a workforce that is willing to accept exploitation. They also see education as reproducing and legitimating class inequality. Postmodernists reject this view of Marxism, that we still live in a two-class society and the claim that education reproduces class inequality.
Capitalism brought about the industrialisation of modern society, this idea is favoured by Marxists but postmodernists argue that society is not as simple as this. Postmodernism has emerged since the 1970s, in a postmodern society we are defined by what we consume society is not simply one thing but an unstable, fragmented, media saturated global village where image and reality are indistinguishable. Foucault argues that there are no objective criteria that we can use to prove whether a theory is true or false and if we cannot guarantee if knowledge is correct we cannot use it to improve society this view is known as anti foundationalism. Anti foundationalism is based on two key concepts, the enlightenment of achieving progress through true scientific knowledge and any all embracing theory that claims to have the absolute truth about how to create a better society such as Marxism however it is a meta- narrative and is just someone’s version of reality and it is not necessarily the truth so there is no need to accept the claims that the theory makes Postmodernists a reject meta narratives such as Marxism because they have helped create oppressive totalitarian states that have impose their version of the truth on people for example the former soviet union in Russia. Because they believe that all accounts of reality are equally valid so we should therefore recognise and celebrate diversity rather than imposing one