Is Marxism Still Relevant Today? Eight possible ways in which some aspects of Marxist Theory and concepts might still be relevant today... Relevant to A2 Sociology Theory and Methods (details to follow) 1. A class based analysis of global society is still relevant if you look at things globally. 2. Exploitation still lies at the heart of the Capitalist system if you look at the practices of many Transnational Corporations. 3. If you look at the recent bank bail outs it appears that those with economic power still have disproportionate influence over the superstructure. 4. If you look at how individualised we have become it appears that many people are still under ideological control ~ but we don’t realise it. ~ 5. Work is still Alienating for many people: + 6. Economic crises are still inherent to the capitalist system and that in recent years these crises have become“more severe and more frequent. 7. Capitalist exploitation is so bad in some parts of the world that there is vehement resistance to it. 8. In Britain there are tens of thousands of people who call themselves Communists and who sympathise with Marxism and the wider anti- capitalist movement. Left Wing criticisms and the anti-capitalist movement is still very much alive today.RY AND METHODS Economic determinism Critics have accused Marx of economic determinism = of arguing that economic. factors determine and shape human behaviour and the structure of society It is possible to select passages from Marx's 40 years of writing that appear {o support this criticism. At certain times, Marx has claimed that: > The superstructure is ‘determined! by the infrastructure Economic forces beyond human control shape » History is directed by economic forces which follow ron laws > Conflicts of interest between the ruling and subject, Classes will inevitably lead to revolution, to the downfall of capitalism and the establishment of communism, However, as the next section indicates, the above criticisms may well go too far. Although Marx gave priority to economic factors, he did not see them as the only cause of social change. He did describe the economic infrastructure as the ‘ultimate determinant element in history. Yet he added: Ifsomebody abstract and senseless phrase. The economic situation is the basis, but the va upon the course of the historical struggle and ate in determining Marx consistently argued that ‘man makes his own history: Human behaviour is not simply determined. by forces beyond human control, In Maras words, History is nothing but the activity of men in pursuit of their ends’ Because people make society, only people can change society 10 Globalisation and multinational corporations The US economist John Cassidy (1997) claimed that Marx. would reappear as The next big thinker. Writing with Engels in 1848, Marx predicted that capitalism Would spread throughout the world as capitalists sought to find new markets to maintain profitability Cassidy believes that Marx correctly identified the ‘dynamic behind the present process of globalisation He also praises Marx for recognising that even in the highly productive world of advanced capi workers would still be extremely poor, This is certainly true, particularly in less developed countries where epitalists often employ workers on extremely low wages. Cassidy also agrees with Mary’ view that as 2pitalism developed, more and more wealth ‘and power would be concentrated in the hands of capitalists. The growth of giant multinational corporations with a bigger turnover than the gross domestic product of many nation-states provides support for Marx's view. Capitalism, crises and growing inequality Marx savy pitalism as an unstable system moving from crisis to crisis in its drive to accumulate more and more pital and ever greater profits. The British Marxist ‘geographerisociologist David Harvey (2010) sees the recurring financial crises, for example the crises of the early 1970s and 2007/08, as providing support for Marx's view. Marx predicted that in capitalist society income and wealth would be increasingly concentrated in fewer and fewer hands. Again, Harvey finds support for Marx’ view. He notes that, ‘in the United States, for example, household incomes since the 1970 have generally stagnated in the midst of an immense ‘accumulation of wealth by capitalist class interests! (Harvey, 2010) For Harvey, Marx remains relevant and offers possible solutions to today’s inequalities of cenitalist society, Like Marx, David Harvey believes ‘We need revolu politics to replace capitalisry with a fair and just society! STRUCTURAL THEORIES In 2011, over 20 000 people occupied! WallStreet, the financial district of New York, protesting against wh they ‘Savy as corporate greed and corruption, and social inequality ‘The Occupy Movement stated that The one thing we have in common is that we are the 99% that will no longer tolerate the greed and c ruption of the 1%! (Gautney, 2011). Estimates indicate that the top 1 per ‘cent own around 40 per cent of the nation’s wealth and receive about 25 per cent of the income. The protest was partly about the financial crisis of 2007/08, the effects of The posters NEED NOT GREED TAX THE FILTHY RICH OVERTHROW CAPITALISM, WE ARE THE 99% hich were stil being felt by millions of people. ied by the protesters on Wall Street give some idea of their concerns. Typical statements read: GET $ § OUT OF POLITICS IT'S A CLASS WAR PEOPLE BEFORE PROFITS WALL STREET WHERE CRIME PAYS How might a Marxist explain the Occupy Wall Street Movement? }-Marxis| Neo*Marxism or ‘new Marxism’ refers to follo of Karl Marx who have taken his theories in new directions. This section looks at two neo-Marxists, the Italian, Antonio Gramsci (1891-1957) and the Frenchman, Louis Althusser (1918-1990). Gramsci (1971) main development of Marxist theory is his concept of hegemony ~ the means by which the ruling dass maintains its dominance and control over the subject class. Hegemony has certain similarities to Manes view of ruling class ideology and false class sof political and moral beliefs and values which justify and maintain ruling cass power. Hegemony broadcasts the idea that the interests of the ruling class are those of society as a witole. It provides ways of seeing and thinking which tend to be taken for granted, which appear normal and reasonable, but which distort reality and present a false consciousness, consciousness, It consi "1