Marxism (Sociology) - 2205 Words

AQA AS/A SOCIOLOGY ESSAY: CRITICALLY EXAMINE MARXIST PERSPECTIVES ON TODAY’S SOCIETY Classical Marxism is a conflict structural theory which argues that, rather than society being based on value consensus as functionalists would contend, there is a conflict of interest between different groups (social classes) because of the unequal distribution of power and wealth. Marxists are also interested in the way in which social change can occur, particularly in sudden and revolutionary ways. However, there are differences between Marxists especially over the way which social change can come about. For example, humanistic Marxists like Gramsci give a greater role to the conscious decisions and actions of human beings than do structural Marxists†¦show more content†¦For example, it shapes the nature of religion, law, education, the state and so on. According to Marx, capitalism sows the seeds of its own destruction. For example, by polarising the classes, bringing the proletar iat together in ever-increasing numbers, and driving down their wages, capitalism creates the conditions under which the working class can develop a consciousness (or awareness) of its own economic and political interests in opposition to those of its exploiters. As a result, the proletariat moves from merely being a class-in-itself (whose members share the same economic position) to becoming a class-foritself, whose members are class conscious – aware of the need to overthrow capitalism. The means of production would then be put in the hands of the state and run in the interests of everyone, not just of the bourgeoisie. A new type of society – socialism developing into communism – would be created, which would be without exploitation, without classes and without class conflict. Marx’s work has been subjected to a number of criticisms. First, Marx’s predictions have not come true. Far from society becoming polarised and the working class becoming p oorer, almost everyone in western societies enjoys a far higher standard of living than ever before. The collapse of so-called ‘communist’ regimes like the former Soviet Union, and growing private ownership and capitalist growth in China, cast some doubt on the viability of the practical implementationShow MoreRelatedSociology- Marxism1579 Words   |  7 Pagesaccepted and apart of a group. For this reason socialisation is a better tool to use to create social order. When violence is used people may be suppressed for a while but will eventually become so tired of living in fear that they demand change, as Marxism says a new level of consciousness will be formed, for example ‘socialist consciousness’. If a person is not living in fear there is nothing they see as important to change and so continue to live as the government and more importantly the bourgeoisieRead MoreTheories Of Sociology : Functionalism And Marxism Essay1894 Words   |  8 PagesThis ess ay will aim to outline and criticise two critical theories of sociology: Functionalism and Marxism; while exploring their approach towards education in society. As a result, reaching a conclusion that is able to suggest and explain which of these perspectives offers the most accurate analysis of this area. First emerging in the nineteenth-century Europe, the Functionalist approach is a variant of Structuralism and was heavily influenced by Emile Durkheim (Haralambos Holborn, 2008, pp.Read More Karl Marx Essay1742 Words   |  7 Pagesphilosopher stands out amongst the crowd, and that person is named Karl Marx (1818-1883). In this essay I aim to explore and critically assess his ideas, theories, and studies in his contribution to sociology, and if his ideas, theories and studies are useful to this contribution to sociology. Sociology began in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries in Western Europe. Around this time, the political and economic systems in Europe were changing. Things like the Monarchy, (which was the rule ofRead MoreThe Marxist Theory Of Law1348 Words   |  6 Pagesthe fundamental theorists of marxism, Karl Marx, Emile Durkheim, and Max Weber who have been profoundly compelling in identifying and developing the sociology of law. Although many believe that their theories expand upon each other, others contend that the ideas of Marx, Durkheim and Weber are simply repeated in different words. The Supreme Court Cases of Grutter v. Bollinger and Gratz v. Bollinger are prime cases of how Marx, Durkheim and Weber viewed the sociology of the law. It is necessary toRead MoreMarxist And Conflict Theories Of Deviance Essay1580 Words   |  7 Pagesthis chapter surroung Marxist and conflict theories do not always agree on all the views of their theories, they come from the same social constructionist or relativist perspective. Social construction is referred to as a theory of knowledge in sociology and communications theory that examines the development of cooperatively constructed understandings of the world. There are two general ways in which theories differ from each other, the first is their definition of power. Marxists focus on the politicalRead MoreConflict Theory Essay1066 Words   |  5 Pagestheory is mainly about power divisions and class struggle lead to conflict. This theory plays an important role when it comes to sociological studies, since it proves that sociology also has focus on phenomena of power and conflict. Since conflict theory is mainly about class struggle, one important type of conflict theory is the Marxism Conflict theory. As stated before, this theory has led to many important authors like Karl Marx to create their own version of conflict theory. Karl Marx was a GermanRead MoreSocial Analysis Of Marxist And Marxist Theory1660 Words   |  7 Pageshow it affected the Marxist tradition to be a fascinating subject matter. While researching the kinds of social analysis that were used in the formation of Marxist theory I found that Karl Marx and his predecessors concentrated less on the role sociology plays in society and concentrated more on issues of class struggle and how it affects the formation of society. I believe that their focus on class struggle is because it feeds into the idea of reforming society in a more fair and just manner. Read MoreKarl Marx And The German Political System1427 Words   |  6 Pagesor zero contribution to philosophy and all he did was rip off Georg Hegel’s work. Karl Marx’s theories have been influential and played a significant role in modern day communism and socialism’s developments. Marx was a founding father of modern sociology and his analysis of religion is probably one of the most notorious in expressing the beliefs in a religion or not. Marx analyzed religion from a general and scientific standpoint and spoke of religion in a way that made people question if his theoryRead MoreThe Communist Manifesto Marx And Engels855 Words   |  4 Pagesconsidered classes, these may have been strata or elites that were not based solely on economic factors like that of priesthood, knights, or military elite. Marx s theories about society, economics and politics, which are collectively known as Marxism, argue that all society progresses through the dialectic of class struggle. He was heavily critical of the current socio-economic form of society, capitalism, which he called the dictatorship of the bourgeoisie, believing it to be run by the wealthyRead MoreAsses the Marxist View That the Main Role of the Family Is to Serve the Interest of Capitalism847 Words   |  4 PagesAsses the Marxist view that the main role of the family is to serve the interest of capitalism. Within sociology there are many different perspectives on the family. Each different perspective sees different things as the main role of the family.  Marxists view the family in a very disparaging light. They believe that the main role of the family is to serve the interest of capitalism and bourgeoisie. Marxists also believe that the family cushions the main provider. Karl Marxs view on the capitalistic

A Critique on the Character and Citizenship Education

This academic exercise serves to provide an institutional critique on the Character and Citizenship Education (CCE) from its conception in 2011. My hypothesis suggests that CCE is a continuity of the historical economic-efficiency paradigm centering on the symbiotic discourses of survival, global competitiveness â€Å"communitarian† (Chua, 1995) vision and model of citizens’ character, values and functions. Through a structural analysis or ahistorical-comparative method† (Neuman, 2006) on the history of values education within the contexts of the corresponding economic imperatives - economic pragmatism and social cohesion appears to be at the centre of these discourses. These ideological structures seem to have continued in the current CCE†¦show more content†¦Yet this was not exactly a moment of aberration, Chua suggested that the introduction of â€Å"Religious Knowledge† was itself an effort to rectify the rise of individualism in the 1980s as a result of perceived Singapore’s growing westernization (Chua, 1995). Instead of a diversion, the effort was to strengthen the ideology of communitarianism, ensuring the importance of social cohesion would not be overridden by the influence of globalization, which ironically weakened the base, which gave it strength. This ideological contradiction came into sharper focus in the late 1990s and 2000s when the heightened globalization processes dispelled the illusion of coherence. The uneasy alliance between economic imperatives and social cohesion continued into the 1990s and 2000s, where it might be said that Singapore has been properly integrated into a newly shaped globalized economy. (Mardiana Gopinathan, 2013) Then, driven by the politics of the human capital economic competition economic restructuring where â€Å"innovation creativity† (Mardiana Gopinathan, 2013) ruled, social cohesion remained as the key to stability-sensitive foreign investment talents attraction. In 1992, â€Å"Civics Moral Education† (CME) was introduced essentially aShow MoreRelatedEthics in Education1245 Words   |  5 Pagesâ€Å"Ethics in Education† Learning Team B Gen300 Dr. Athalene Mc Nay 4-20-2008 I. What is ethics? A. A definition of ethics. B. How are ethics used in education? II. Integrity is part of ethics in education. A. A definition of integrity. B. Trust relationship is essential in ethics in education. C. Academic integrity is a mutual responsibility. D. There is cheating and academic responsibility within the education system. E. Phony schools, diploma mills and false credentials are aRead MoreThe New Land Of America Essay1619 Words   |  7 Pagesthe next day. Finn narrowly escapes being murdered for his father for the money his mother left him. Unable to stay with his father Finn fakes his death and runs away. In the confusion of Finn’s alleged death Jim, a slave, runs away. Both of these characters accost each other in the forest. Finn and Jim go on a long journey to free Jim from slavery. In this work Jim is the voice of Twain. Twain makes the resounding point of â€Å"Just because it is popular does not make it right† on the subject of slaveryRead MoreTrainspotting Film Analysis Essay1239 Words   |  5 Pagesthis opposition is offered, arguably, as a reason for the behavioural patterns depicted; what people forget is the sheer pleasure of it, as Renton confesses. We might describe the group of friends, united by failure, as classic anti-heroes; as characters with whom we sympathise despite the horrors they commit. It is a reading underpinned by nihilism, and one cant help but recall the Zarathustrian Table of Values expounded by Nietzsche. The existence of different subcultures, defined by valuesRead MoreMy Educational Philosophy – A Work in Progress Essay1060 Words   |  5 Pagesconcludes, I enjoy this opportunity to reflect on the ideologies, methodologies, and approaches I have learned throughout the semester that will serve as the foundation to which my educational philosophy can be built upon. Rooted in my philosophy of education, is a combination of what I believe the purpose of school is for, and, the factors that influence student success. Early on in the semester, I wrote in my reflection 1 paper that, â€Å"the purpose of school is to educate students, no matter their ageRead MoreThe Paradox Of Participation : Political An d Economic Model For Developing Countries1702 Words   |  7 PagesMovements in Post-Dictatorship Chile Julia Paley thoughtfully criticizes contemporary Chilean democracy. The author interprets Chile as the political and economic model for developing countries. She depicts the Chileans’ struggle for mobilization and critique of the democracy that has evolved as a result of the military dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet. The book is written in accessible and descriptive prose, which allows Paley to raise a couple of questions concerning the governance in the country andRead MoreCorporate Social Responsibility ( Csr )1732 Words   |  7 Pagesassociate certain brands with certain style elements and character or even lifestyle implied by the brand image. Thus, in the process of customers’ decision making process, they will refer to the image of themselves and the image that they want to appear themselves to the other people. To target on a particular customer segment, it is believed that a brand should establish an image either consistent with the customers’ character or the character the target customers wants to achieve. Therefore, associationRead MoreConnecting Leadership Theory and Christian Ministry Essay1467 Words   |  6 Pagesthe most appropriate leadership model for any particular structure requires a careful analysis. The three leadership models considered were: the being-centered leadership model, the spiritual leadership model, and the servant-leadership model. A critique of the three separate models identified servant-leadership as the most suitable theory for the unique characteristics of Christian ministry. Leadership Models Analyzed As the name implies, being-centered leadership approaches leadership on theRead More Liberalism, Civic Reformism and Democracy Essay2784 Words   |  12 Pagesdemocratic citizenship. The case for liberalism rests on an argumentative reconstruction of the function it performs before the rise of a world economic order and, more specifically, in the creation of the welfare state after the Second World War. Accordingly, liberalism defines a reformist political program: it is an emancipatory political project by virtue of its struggle for an egalitarian and universalist extension of citizenship rights. This is but a formulation of the modern idea of citizenship, conceivedRead MoreEducational drama in education8389 Words   |  34 Pagesï » ¿Educational drama in education for sustainable development: ecopedagogy in action he research on which this paper is based is a response to the UNESCO directive for the Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) 2005–2014. Educators are advised to prepare young people for sustainable development and global citizenship and the Arts should be included in programmes in ESD. This paper presents an overview of a research project based on the hypothesis that educational drama might be aRead More Martin Luther King Jrs Impact on the Civil Rights Movement Essay1565 Words   |  7 PagesAmericas finest preacher, and for the first time, a mass white audience heard the undeniable justice for black demands (Seattle Times, 4 April 1993). King said There will be neither rest nor tranquility in America until the Negro is granted his citizenship. Senator Hubert Humphrey said all this probably hasnt changed any votes on the civil rights bill, but its a good thing for Washington and the nation of the world. And Senator David Lewis says that the speech exceeds as an emotional oratory

Ethical Issues with Termination Free Essays

At-will employment means that the employee or employer has the right â€Å"to end the employment relationship at any time with or without notice or cause. † (FedEx Office: AllBusiness, 1999-2009) Involuntary termination is a touchy subject for employers and it can happen for numerous reasons: specific cause, such as stealing, poor performance, and layoffs due to lack of work. Even though most companies have an â€Å"at-will† relationship with their employees, it is still arguably illegal to terminate an employee for no reason. We will write a custom essay sample on Ethical Issues with Termination or any similar topic only for you Order Now When it comes to termination, managers are faced with current moral and ethical issues. In a lot of companies, in addition to professional relationships, managers develop personal relationships with their employees. In most cases, employees spend a majority of their week (40+ hours) with their â€Å"work family. † Co-workers learn about each other’s families, extra-curricular activities, and personal problems. Even if managers try to separate themselves from their employees on a personal level, it is difficult to ignore new school pictures being displayed on their desks or avoid a discussion about a recent weekend vacation.When legitimate problems arise in a company which requires involuntary termination, the manager faces a dilemma. They must fire an employee because it is best for the company and ignore the thoughts of how it will affect their family and personal life. Often times, employees take the involuntary termination harder because they feel betrayed by someone they considered their â€Å"friend†. When an employee is terminated, in more cases than not, they feel blind-sided; most of them â€Å"never saw it coming†.It is essential that employers set and follow standard documentation procedures that will provide a timeline of disciplinary action and perform ance reviews that will serve as proof of legitimate termination if necessary. A disgruntled employee may question the validity of their termination and in some cases seek legal counsel to help them determine if there was just cause. The current social issues in the United States may make it more difficult for a manager to terminate an employee while at the same time it is more than necessary.The financial state of the country is  causing businesses to struggle which results in less profits; less profits mean that a company’s productions will be lowered so they cannot afford and do not need the same number of employees. In this case, an employee may not have given any cause for termination but managers must choose which employee they are willing to lose. They may choose the last hired, the highest paid, or the employee that is least valuable.Knowing that the rate of unemployment is at an all time high and the possibility of finding other employment may take longer than usual, the manager faces a tough a decision when thinking of how their decision wil l negatively each person they must terminate. Severance packages may be offered in exchange for â€Å"a full release of all claims† that may be filed against the company for wrongful termination. Tough economical times may cause disgruntled employees to take whatever measures necessary to generate income for their family. I have been a victim of wrongful termination.In 2002,  I started working as an assistant to the Office Manager  of a small financial company. There were only two other people above the Office Manager and that was a person in sales position and then the President of the company. I quickly caught on and was given more responsibilities as well as a pretty healthy increase in pay. Working in a small office allows for unconventional relationships between managers and employees; we shared the same interests, shared a similar sense of humor which resulted in a workplace friendship between all of us.Lunch trips and shopping breaks turned into personal Christmas party invitations and summer beach house vacations. We were all very close and business was increasing so more employees were hired to work under me. My supervisor and I became almost interchangeable. If she was not there, I took over and performed her duties, although she could not perform mine. I sensed animosity building and tension rising, but overall I knew I was there as her assistant and was careful to never overstep my boundaries.Business slowed and our sales structure changed, so cuts were being made. The sales person was let go and I think she felt that one of us would be next; even though she had been there longer I know she felt threatened that I could perform her job as well as mine. She started targeting me; purposefully changing my changing after my school schedule had been approved, moving my desk unnecessarily, and creating an overall hostile work environment by addressing everyone in a room except for me. I knew what she was doing; being a part of the â€Å"inside upper management†, I had witnessed her do it to others before. Her strategy was to make employees quit in order to avoid the expense of paying unemployment wages. One week, she called me into an office to discuss my work performance and stated that she was giving me a warning. I knew that she was now trying to create a paper trail of disciplinary problems, even though nothing had changed in my performance.The following week she requested another meeting and said that she was writing me up for personal internet usage. Previously, it was acceptable for us to check our personal email, and she and I would collectively read news and gossip and exchange stories across the room. I refused to sign the disciplinary notice because I had not been informed of any policy changes, so that was then considered insubordination. I was asked to leave; I immediately went to the Department of Labor to file for unemployment due to wrongful termination.I explained to them that my termination was not legitimate. I waited for them to contact my employer and of course they provided a copy of the form that I refused to sign. The Department of Labor declined my request for unemployment compensation, so I appealed their decision and wrote a very long letter explaining everything I knew about how my supervisor â€Å"set up† previous employees to keep them from receiving unemployment. I also requested a phone interview in which both I and my supervisor would be present with a Department of Labor representative.My supervisor declined the request; I assume because she knew she was wrong and did not want to be faced with questions regarding what I wrote. Nine months later, I was contacted by the President of the company stating that they had tried to hire several people to take my place and he realized that he shoul d have never allowed her to terminate me. He offered me a large salary increase and a promise that my employment status will never be in her hands. She still works with me, and we are â€Å"friends† again, but I have definitely learned to keep office friendships to a minimum.Today we are able to laugh at the situation; deep down I think she respects me for standing up for myself and she knows that I am a great asset to the company. Termination is not something that anyone ever looks forward to, be it the employee or the employer. Unfortunately it has to be done, and employers must take steps to protect themselves from lawsuits and disgruntled employees. Employees must learn that although there may be a â€Å"relationship† with their manager, the manager must first look out for the business’s best interest and it may ot always include them as an employee.References Butler, B. (2009). Right-to-Work and At-Will Employee. Today’s Workplace: A Workplace Fairness Blog. Retrieved on December 7, 2009. Farr, . (2000,  November). Terminations Require Careful Study, Planning. Small Business, (), 15. FedEx Office: AllBusiness. (1999-2009). Decreasing the Legal Risks of Employee Termination. How to cite Ethical Issues with Termination, Papers

Arts & Economics Analysis & Cultural Policy

Questions: How confident are you that companies today take culture into proper account and balance along with other aspects of productivity? Why? What specific instances can you cite from experience and from academic literature? Be sure to include APA-formatted references in your response. What can an individual do in any of these areas (music, literature, art, theater, education, or religion) to sustain and grow a healthy and useful culture? What reasons do you have for doing anything? What is the role of the individual versus the role of government in sustaining and building a healthy and robust culture through the humanities? What should be the individuals role in his or her own community and country, and what should the role be in regions outside of the home country? What is the role of educational institutions in shaping and encouraging specific cultural and humanities concepts alongside the emphasis on knowledge and facts? Answers: 1. According to the Bhatia, An organizations culture includes its objectives as well as its values. Adoption of a culture and ensuring that it is compatible with every employee in the organization is not a cakewalk (Bhatia, 2014). Companies have started to take culture into consideration since employees derive their inspiration to work from the organizational culture. Furthermore, culture plays a vital role in improving productivity by affecting the sectors such as Decision making and Integrity within the organization 2. An individual associated with the areas such as music, literature, art etc. has to adopt a culture and then embark on a few procedures (Frey, 2013). In order to grow a productive culture an individual needs to practice the culture, teach it, define it, estimate its outcomes and provide appropriate rewards. 3. Primarily, there are two motivating factors behind any event. One of them is psychological and the other is material. 4. An individuals role in building a robust culture through the humanities is limited to practice and propagation of culture (Bhatia, 2014). On the contrary, a government has to adapt to the changes in organizational culture and conduct activities favoring the changes. 5. In site responsibilities include the consistent practice of culture and contribute economically as well as supportively. On the contrary, an individual must strive to teach the indigenous culture in regions outside home country and apprehend details about their cultures. 6. Educational institutions form the basis of a thriving society and adept education ensures formulation of sophisticated cultures (Frey, 2013). Educational institutions inculcate crucial habits such as teamwork, discipline and adherence to deadlines. 7. History and literature shall be the areas to be emphasized. History presents us prolific solutions to existing problems through lucid description of similar instances in past. References Bhatia, V. K. (2014).Analysing genre: Language use in professional settings. Routledge. Frey, B. S. (2013).Arts economics: Analysis cultural policy. Springer Science Business Media.