Marxism Marxism

andandPowerPower

Marxists believe that political power has its Marxists believe that political power has its origins in origins in economiceconomic power. Therefore power. Therefore those who own the means of production those who own the means of production (wealth, factories, businesses, money) - (wealth, factories, businesses, money) - the bourgeoisie have both economic and the bourgeoisie have both economic and political power over the non owners (the political power over the non owners (the working class or proletariat).working class or proletariat).

Government and the State therefore exist Government and the State therefore exist to maintain the class divisions in society.to maintain the class divisions in society.

How do the ruling How do the ruling class maintain this class maintain this

power?power?

Marxists acknowledge that in capitalist Marxists acknowledge that in capitalist societies there sometimes appears to be societies there sometimes appears to be consent for the authority of the capitalists consent for the authority of the capitalists from the workers, but argue that this is from the workers, but argue that this is "false consciousness""false consciousness" - capitalist ideas - capitalist ideas and attitudes are imposed on the working and attitudes are imposed on the working class through ideological manipulation. class through ideological manipulation.

The dominant capitalist ideology is said to be The dominant capitalist ideology is said to be imposed on workers in schools, through the imposed on workers in schools, through the media and through organised religion. For media and through organised religion. For example children in schools are "taught" how to example children in schools are "taught" how to compete for scarce qualifications, the media compete for scarce qualifications, the media manipulates the news to show capitalist interests manipulates the news to show capitalist interests in a good light, and religion "teaches" the poor in a good light, and religion "teaches" the poor to put up with their conditions and wait for the to put up with their conditions and wait for the after life.after life.

““Religion is the Religion is the sigh of the sigh of the oppressed oppressed creature, the creature, the heart of a heart of a heartless world, heartless world, and the soul of and the soul of soulless soulless conditions. It is conditions. It is the opium of the the opium of the people.”people.”

““The oppressed The oppressed are allowed once are allowed once every few years every few years to decide which to decide which particular particular representatives representatives of the oppressing of the oppressing class are to class are to represent and represent and repress them.”repress them.”

““Christian Christian Socialism is but Socialism is but the holy water the holy water with which the with which the priest priest consecrates the consecrates the heart-burnings heart-burnings of the of the aristocrat.”aristocrat.”

The Italian modern or The Italian modern or neo-Marxist Gramsci neo-Marxist Gramsci develops the idea of develops the idea of

ideological dominance ideological dominance considerably. considerably.

Ideological leadership Ideological leadership of society by the of society by the

capitalists is described capitalists is described as 'hegemony'.as 'hegemony'.

Gramsci was put in prison by the fascist Gramsci was put in prison by the fascist Italian government in 1926.Italian government in 1926.

Here he wrote his Prison Notebooks and Here he wrote his Prison Notebooks and he developed his theory of cultural he developed his theory of cultural hegemony.hegemony.

Cultural hegemony is the dominance of Cultural hegemony is the dominance of one social group over another, i.e. the one social group over another, i.e. the ruling class over all other classes. The ruling class over all other classes. The ideas of the ruling class come to be seen ideas of the ruling class come to be seen as the norm; they are seen as universal as the norm; they are seen as universal ideologies, perceived to benefit everyone ideologies, perceived to benefit everyone whilst only really benefiting the ruling whilst only really benefiting the ruling class. class.

Can you think of examples of hegemony?Can you think of examples of hegemony?

Peston - 2007Peston - 2007

Peston states that 54 billionaires paid just Peston states that 54 billionaires paid just £15 million in tax on earnings of £126 £15 million in tax on earnings of £126 million in 2007.million in 2007.

The gap between the super rich and the The gap between the super rich and the rest of the population is ever wideningrest of the population is ever widening

Shows an increase in power for the Shows an increase in power for the business and financial sectors and business and financial sectors and incredibly high rewards for a small incredibly high rewards for a small minority of individuals.minority of individuals.

Peston - 2007Peston - 2007

For example in 2005 retailer Phillip Green, For example in 2005 retailer Phillip Green, who awarded himself a £1.2 mbillion who awarded himself a £1.2 mbillion return from his stores empire (paid to his return from his stores empire (paid to his wife who resides in Monte Carlo) was wife who resides in Monte Carlo) was given a knighthood by Prime Minister Tony given a knighthood by Prime Minister Tony Blair.Blair.

Hugo Chavez – Venezuela Hugo Chavez – Venezuela

Chavez was an army officer who led a Chavez was an army officer who led a coup in 1992 because he was fed up with coup in 1992 because he was fed up with government corruption and kleptocracy. government corruption and kleptocracy. He was also shocked by the government He was also shocked by the government use of violence against the poorest people use of violence against the poorest people who lived in Los Barrios.who lived in Los Barrios.

Chavez was put in prison for 2 years.Chavez was put in prison for 2 years.

When he came out he developed a political party When he came out he developed a political party that stood up against the interest of big business that stood up against the interest of big business and American companies. He represented the and American companies. He represented the wishes of the poorest sectors of Venezuelan wishes of the poorest sectors of Venezuelan society.society.

In the 1998 elections Chavez won the In the 1998 elections Chavez won the presidential elections with enormous support presidential elections with enormous support amongst the poor.amongst the poor.

He introduced radical ideas of participatory He introduced radical ideas of participatory democracy with his ‘Bolivarian Circles’ democracy with his ‘Bolivarian Circles’

In 2002 Chavez survived a coup led by the In 2002 Chavez survived a coup led by the recently ousted elite group.recently ousted elite group.

They controlled the army, kidnapped They controlled the army, kidnapped Chavez and tried to take him out of the Chavez and tried to take him out of the country. They tried to force him to resign.country. They tried to force him to resign.

However when news of this broke out in Los However when news of this broke out in Los Barrios of Caracas thousands of Chavez supporters Barrios of Caracas thousands of Chavez supporters

flooded on the streets and to the airportflooded on the streets and to the airport

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ve0lNghau_whttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ve0lNghau_w http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6xdHdz0ZUVM&feature=PlayList&p=11CED9D8DB8E9051&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=2http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6xdHdz0ZUVM&feature=PlayList&p=11CED9D8DB8E9051&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=2

Imagine if this happened in this Imagine if this happened in this countrycountry

You would want to find out more You would want to find out more information, so you turn your television on information, so you turn your television on to see…to see…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pTwbYsg-WsY&feature=relatedhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pTwbYsg-WsY&feature=related

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Revolution_Will_Not_Be_Televisedhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Revolution_Will_Not_Be_Televised

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BS3QOtbW4m0http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BS3QOtbW4m0