Applying Marxism
Go to our Media Factsheet archive on the Media Shared drive and open Factsheet #66: Applying Marxism 1) What does Marxism suggest regarding power in society? Marx was interested in the impact of capitalism on society. Through observations of industrialised Victorian society he noted a number of things: • Power was held by a minority (the elite or bourgeoisie) who had access to capital and could use their money and power to generate more wealth • The majority of the population (the mass or proletariat) had only their labour (strength and time) to help them make a living • Industrialisation had meant that the elite were the only ones who had access to the means of production • Without the ability to produce for themselves, the mass were dependent on the elite for survival • To maximise profits, the elite needed to get as much labour from the mass for as little cost as possible • The elite needed the mass to accept their position a...