structural marxism

Question 1

ISA and RSA

Answer 1

althusser - agreed with humanistic marxists about dual functions of state but different terms

repressive state apparatus - parts of state that coerce the proletariat into accepting bourgeois dominance

ideological state apparatus - institutions that manipulate the proletariat into accepting capitalism as legitimate

Question 2

rejecting the economic base / superstructure model

Answer 2

Althusser rejected both economic determinism of traditional marxism and the emphasis on free will of humanistic marxists

• argued that capitalist society as three structures

economic level, political level, ideological level

all have relative autonomy and two-way causality

Question 3

rejecting gramsci

Answer 3

rejected view we are authors of our actions

while we may think we are authors of our actions - illusion created by ISAs - we are products of pre-existing structures that map out our lives for us

ISAs socialise us into filling our allotted places in the relations of production

revolution will only occur if crisis in capitalism - contradictions at different levels of three structures - over-determinations

Question 4

strengths

Answer 4

Craib - offers the most sophisticated conception of social structure available in the social sciences

Question 5

limitations

Answer 5

Althusser’s structural marxism is also deterministic - structural determinism rather than economic
this is done by stressing structural factors - allowing individuals little free will
overlooks the role played by working classes in struggling against capitalism

discourages political activism as political activism wont cause change