Marxism

EST: LECTURE
02/03/2020

H Agumba
 Marxism
2
What can you recall
about Marxism?
Write down at least
three things. Share
ideas with a partner
(5 minutes)

H Agumba
 3

Marxist tradition of sociology claim that the

education system is a conspiracy which exists to
deny the children of the working class access to an
understanding of their true class position.

Do you agree or disagree with this claim?

Support your arguments with evidence.

H Agumba
 What is Marxism?
4

 Marxists see capitalist society as being ruled by

the economy.
 The minority, the ruling class or bourgeoisie rule
the majority, namely the workers or proletariat.
 The bourgeoisie have the wealth and the power to
rule.
 The proletariat are exploited because they are not
treated fairly. This is the basis of class inequality.

H Agumba
 Therefore…
5

Education reproduces the inequalities and

social relations of production of Capitalist
Society.
Education serves to legitimate these
inequalities under the guise of Meritocracy

H Agumba
 Education and Inequality
6

The main function of education in capitalist

countries is to create workers.
Educational inequality mirrors the inequality of
wider society.
If capitalism is to succeed it must have an
industrious and obedient workforce that is too
divided to challenge the authority of the rulers.
The education system succeeds in fulfilling this
aim by means of the hidden curriculum

H Agumba
 7

Schools kill creativity, insist on conformity, and offer

indoctrination into capitalistic society.
Children learn to accept authority in an unthinking
fashion.

H Agumba
 Strengths
8

 It points out how ideology is transmitted within

schools via the hidden curriculum.
 It recognises conflict of interest in schools; not
everyone shares values.
 It points out the inequalities of both opportunity
and outcome in the system
.

H Agumba
 Weaknesses
9

 It assumes teachers are unaware of class dynamics

and are all middle class agents
 Many working class children do succeed in the
education system
 It overemphasises class and ignores other structural
inequalities: ethnicity and gender

H Agumba
 Louis Althusser
10

Althusser believed that education socialises working

class children into accepting their subordinate status
to the middle class.
Education conveys the ideology of the ruling class.
Education prepares individuals for the world of
work, in order to accept their position in a capitalist
society.

H Agumba
 Video: he sued the school
11

H Agumba
 What do you think of
these ideas?
Have a minute of
discussion with your
study partners

H Agumba 12
 13

Questions

Comments

Thank you!
Suggestions

H Agumba
 Preparation for the next Lecture
14

What is Althusser’s definition of ideology?

What is the main function of ideology?
What is the distinction between state power and
state apparatus?
How are the conditions of production maintained?
What is the relationship between state apparatus
and ISA?
Explain the relevance of Althusser views in
understanding the relationship between education
and the society.
H Agumba