Marxism is

The Bourgeoisie
based upon the
owned the
ideas of Karl
means of
Marx. It is a Economic Base – Superstructure –
production
structural those that control cultural, social and
(factories and
theory that the wealth of political structure
machinery) society have power of society –
looks at the
which made to shape the government,
conflict
them the superstructure education, legal
between social system – these
dominant class
Marxism

classes reinforce interests

of wealthy
Marx suggested The Proletariat
that the only have their
R/C infrastructure of ability to work.
society was This allows the
divided into two Bourgeoisie to
classes – the exploit them as
Bourgeoisie or they need to As the Bourgeoisie control wealth they are able
Working Class ruling class and work to survive to control other institutions. This leads to false
the Proletariat or in a capitalist class consciousness, as the Proletariat are
Working class society taught that the reason they are poor is because
they are less able or don’t work hard enough.
Marx argued that when the workers realised this
Marxists are critical of the organisation of capitalist society. They exploitation, they would revolt and create a
believe that the ruling class have a distinct ideology that looks to communist society.
control the working classes in society. They do this in several ways.