AS SociologyIntroduction to Marxist

Perspective1. What is Marxism in Sociology?2. Supermarket Shopping: An Analogy with

Marxist Theory3. Discussion with Diagram : Shopping/Marxism4. Coffee Break5. Q and A Weaknesses of Marxism: Design a

poster/ or design a pp presentation to present in class

6. Identify and Outline Key Marxist ‘terms’ Activity

7. worksheet on Marxism

Marxist Perspective Founding father: Karl Marx (1818 -1883) Society is about class conflict. Conflict

between 2 social groups: Bourgeoises (ruling class) and Proletariat (working class). Relationship to the means of production (land, factories) that determines social class.

Ruling Class-Own the means of production. Working class own nothing but their labour power.

Each class will pursue it’s own interests. Fundamentally, class interests are in conflict*

Ruling Class more powerful as they have more money to control and keep what they hold

Social change Class Conflict is the dynamic that changes

history. In Capitalist Society: the bourgeoises are

the dominant class. They will use very sophisticated means to persuade, soothe and manipulate the working class population into believing they are not being exploited and to stop them challenging the ruling class.

Marx argued that eventually the working class would realise their exploitation as a social class and overthrow the ruling class in a revolution. (Class conciousness).

They would then create an equal society –Communism

Criticisms Marx’s theory of social change has been

widely criticised. Over 100 years after his work, capitalism continues.

Marx never recognised the power or growth of a middle class. A middle class has developed in all developed countries that Max Weber recognised would grow and possibly stop social change (communism).

Commujist ‘experiments’ have failed. –Soviet Union.

VideoSupermarket Analogy for Marxism

Watch the following video about how US Supermarkets use sophisticated techniques to make people spend more money without realising it!

Consider as you watch this film what similarities there are with the Marxist idea of the ruling class manipulating the working class to stop them realising their exploitation. (False Class Conciousness)

'Supermarkets Inc'- US Film

Marxist Terms Activity Find out what the following terms mean?

(Use a Sociology dictionary or text books) Ideology Embourgoisement Class Conciousness False Class Conciousness Means of Production Proletariat Bourgeoises Communism Class Conflict Neo Marxist Imperialism