Neo-Marxism
Neo-Marxism is a 20th-century school of thought that critiques classical Marxism while retaining its core ideas about class struggle and inequality, but also incorporates cultural and ideological factors beyond pure economics. It examines how power, status, and prestige are maintained through culture and media, and analyzes social issues through a combination of economic and sociocultural dimensions. Key theorists include members of the Frankfurt School like Herbert Marcuse and Theodor Adorno, who focused on how culture perpetuates social norms and the repressive nature of modern societies.
Core concepts
- Cultural and ideological focus: Unlike traditional Marxism’s primary focus on economic production, neo-Marxism analyzes how culture, media, and ideologies like “false consciousness” can maintain power structures and prevent the working class from recognizing their oppression.
- Broader view of inequality: Neo-Marxism expands on the class conflict to include other forms of inequality based on status, power, and prestige, drawing on the work of sociologists like Max Weber.
- Social movements: It highlights the role of social movements and collective action in challenging power structures and advocating for social transformation.
- Contemporary applications: Neo-Marxist ideas are applied to analyze modern social issues, including crime, the media’s role in society, and the impact of globalization. For example, it considers the influence of the media in setting the public agenda and perpetuating ideologies that benefit the ruling class.
Key thinkers and groups
- The Frankfurt School: This group, associated with the Institute for Social Research at Goethe University in Germany, developed the philosophy of Critical Theory, which is closely linked to neo-Marxism.
- Herbert Marcuse: Introduced concepts like “one-dimensional thinking” and critiqued the repressive nature of advanced industrial societies.
- Theodor Adorno: Emphasized the role of culture in perpetuating social norms and ideologies that maintain existing power structures.
- Louis Althusser: Contributed concepts like “ideological state apparatuses,” which are institutions that serve to transmit the dominant ideology.
AI responses may include mistakes.
[1] https://libraryguides.bennington.edu/c.php?g=1296953&p=9529373
[2] https://fiveable.me/key-terms/ap-hug/neo-marxist
[3] https://newdiscourses.com/tftw-neo-marxism/
[4] https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/religion-and-philosophy/neo-marxism-and-stratification
[5] https://fiveable.me/key-terms/introduction-humanities/neo-marxism
[6] https://www.hectic-teacher.co.uk/sociology-support/theory-and-methods/tm3-marxism-and-neo-marxism
[9] https://philosophyball.miraheze.org/wiki/Hegelian_Marxism
[11] https://ebooks.inflibnet.ac.in/socp2/chapter/neo-marxist-perspectives-louis-althusser/