Marxist theory

Discourse, ideology, and hegemony are intertwined. The notion of ideology emerged in the work of Karl Marx. The Marxist notion of ideology focuses on how society is dominated by the interests of the ruling economic class, as a field of social power, where the subordinate classes lacking economic power consent to the hierarchies of social power. Thus, the working class, for instance, is exploited by the dominant/privileged class and takes their exploitation for granted within economic structures…

Capitalist societies generate alienation - according to Marxist theory . The wealthy, despite owning the means of production are alienated from the proletariat. The proletariat are alienated, in that they are exploited as sources of wealth, alienated from the products of their labour and themselves, through their experience as commodities (Berger, 50). This idea reflects Marxist morality and applies to contemporary capitalist societies, New Zealand included. While some argue that alienation…

which are employers, working classes, and farmers. Their social status are based on their owned properties. According to Franks, people who claim themselves to be Marxists argue that they have deeper understanding about class, race, ethnicity, and gender. Inequalities in the society are the ramification of the class issues (Franks 30). Marxists argue that people in a same class is a group of people who share the common relation of production process. For example, in the United States, middle…

Strain Theory developed by Robert Merton. Traditional Marxism argues that it is increased aggression and individualistic nature of the capitalist society that inspires individuals to commit crime, however Merton comments that it is Strain between goals and the legitimate means to achieve these goals that cause an individual to commit crime. It is also noted that the Traditional Marxist theory only looks at the cause of crime, and not the effect that the crime has on the…

The final form of alienation Marxist discusses is that of the estrangement from one’s surroundings or one’s nature. Marx argues that individuals can get caught up in the tedious tasks of daily life and end up never contributing significantly to the natural order and world that directly surrounds this day-to-day lifestyle (Czank, 319-321). For Marx and for Bryson, building a relationship with the environment you are in is perhaps just as valuable and significant as doing so with its people.…

of the conditions of production, Althusser is dedicated to improving the “Marxist theory” of the State from the point of view of reproduction. He believes that the reproduction of the relations of production is mainly secured by the Ideological State Apparatuses (AIE). However, he finds that although Marx has made some discussions about ideology, he has never formulated a theory of it. Therefore, Althusser proposes a theory of ideology in general, and focuses on exploring the relations among…

All societies around the world have introduced laws and judicial systems in order to maintain order within its jurisdictions. These laws are meant to be impartial, neutral and objective in resolving social conflicts and protecting individuals in society (Little, 2012, p. 4). However, sometimes the purpose of law is questioned and the law itself is seen as unjust and in need of change. Throughout history, one can see how purposeful and organized groups have come together as a social movement to…

Throughout the years, guns have provided us with the opportunities for peace, freedom, and protection. However, the opposite is also true, when the use of guns results in death, crime, and civil unrest. Guns in the hands of the right people establish a foundation in society in which rules must be followed. But, when the rules are broken the use of guns can result in the unjustifiable death of an individual. Today, we now have the issue of gun violence. We try to curb gun violence by utilizing…

Social injustice arises when equality treated unequally. Each time when someone cheats of what one deserve, there is injustice. Galsworthy has dealt with the theme of social injustice by portraying society as a sharply divided entity consisting of totally opposed classes. His The Skin Game deals with the theme of social injustice. A class struggle is in progress. But it is not between the rich and poor. The struggle is not based on economic inequality but on social inequality. The Skin Game…

In his essay “The Bipartite System of Laws in Paradise Lost" Eric Dunnum argues that in John Milton’s Paradise Lost, man’s fall can be attributed to a system, set by God, that reflects that which is also used by historical kings and governments of the world. This system is a set of laws that is, as the title suggests, bipartite, which means that it is composed of two separate entities that come together to form a whole, and Dunnum’s argument often relies on the works of Louis Althusser to expand…