This essay will discuss the major features and debates around the Marxist approach to society, where society is based upon conflict between groups, such as the ‘haves’ and the ‘have-nots’ (Sociology Central, 2005). It will do this by going into details of Marxism and criticism from the 1930’s to the 1980’s. This will include, but is not limited to the theory of hegemony by Gramsci; Dunayevskaya’s discovery of state capitalism in the Soviet Union; Baran and Sweezy on monopoly capitalism and imperialism; Poulantzas view on state power; Althusser’s Marxist structuralism; technology, functionalism and rational choice according to Cohen; and lastly some very important points to discuss from a Marxist approach which are class, gender and the Frankfurt School.
To first understand Marxist theory, we must first discuss the three big production models of society in Marx’s theory of history. These are feudalism, capitalism and Marx’s favourite communism. Austin Harrington describes feudalism as to do with the relations of bondage between owners of land and those who do not have land. Those who do not have land are normally referred to as peasants. Then there …show more content…
The Oxford dictionary of sociology, describes hegemony as the "ideal representation of the interests of the ruling-class as universal interests."(2009). Adams and Sydie comment that Gramsci saw that it was not through just economics or politics, but through a range of different combinations of intellects, politics and moral leadership that makes hegemony a structural domination. This meant that it had to include politics to other sources such as a superstructure or ideology and private institutions. So for Hegemony to work you need to have a consensus or be good at persuasion and coercion. To be compared to earlier Marxism shows how much more complex Gramsci theory was compared to the working class uprising
To first understand Marxist theory, we must first discuss the three big production models of society in Marx’s theory of history. These are feudalism, capitalism and Marx’s favourite communism. Austin Harrington describes feudalism as to do with the relations of bondage between owners of land and those who do not have land. Those who do not have land are normally referred to as peasants. Then there …show more content…
The Oxford dictionary of sociology, describes hegemony as the "ideal representation of the interests of the ruling-class as universal interests."(2009). Adams and Sydie comment that Gramsci saw that it was not through just economics or politics, but through a range of different combinations of intellects, politics and moral leadership that makes hegemony a structural domination. This meant that it had to include politics to other sources such as a superstructure or ideology and private institutions. So for Hegemony to work you need to have a consensus or be good at persuasion and coercion. To be compared to earlier Marxism shows how much more complex Gramsci theory was compared to the working class uprising