Marxism the basics

Understand all sociologists and social theorists by knowing a little about the time they lived in

Karl Marx 1818 - 1883

Mid- Late Nineteenth Century Britain

Unrest and protest Chartism
Long hours, low pay

Periodic unemployment
No Welfare State

No universal right to vote

Mid-Nineteenth Century Europe

Revolution in France - 1848

Revolutions elsewhere in Europe

Times of Turmoil

Marxs insight:

Its all about money

Some have it

They are called capitalists (or the bourgeoisie)

Others dont ..

They are called the workers (or the proletariat)

Capitalists and workers are thrown together into relations of production

They dont get on too well

Capitalists want

the maximum PROFIT and the lowest costs

Workers want

the highest wage for the least work

These two groups are locked in mortal combat

The Capitalists compete with each other.

The successful capitalists get richer and richer

and the

failed capitalists fall down into the working class

The workers meanwhile are more and more exploited by the remaining capitalists they get poorer and poorer

Marx said that eventually the workers will rise up in revolution against the capitalist class A new communist society will be created

The back-story
What is making all this happen?

Marx has a theory

its because societies are always made from two parts

The Base

The base is like the foundations of a building. Marxists say the economy (the means of production) is the base

And the superstructure The rest of the building which is built on the foundations

The superstructure means all the other parts of society culture, the state, education

The economic base determines (shapes) the superstructure

This is called The base-superstructure model

Superstructure

Base

Social Control in capitalist society is achieved through ideology - ruling class ideology

The ruling ideas in any time are always those of the ruling class

The working class may suffer from false consciousness not understanding their true class position

China

Vietnam North Korea

Laos

Cuba

Political censorship in China

What is censorship ??

History of censorship in china

Who control what is censored?

What is censored?

How censorship effects journalism practices?

How censorship effects people of china?

Censorship
Censorship in china is the limiting or suppressing of the publishing dissemination and viewing of certain information.

Censored material includes anything capable of reaching wide audience including

Radio television Books Movies text messages the internet Video games

History of censorship in china ??

 In china the 1st censorship law was introduced in 300 A.D From 300 A.D Chinese emperors use some form of censorship Since 1949 the Chinese government has been controlled by the communist party, this party has used censorship and propaganda to control its people.

 Communist party leader mao Zedong believed that by censoring materials he could build a communist state. 1957 Anti-rightist campaign was a form of censorship.

 In 1970s and 1980s leader Xiaoping focused more on the economy but the censorship still took place. Over the last three decades, nearly half the economy has been privatized which has led to more freedom of speech. Today everything must still be approved by the government, but they are much more tolerable than before.

Who controls what is censored ???

Several government bodies are involved in reviewing and enforcing laws related to the information flow in china.

GAPP : general administration of press and publication.

SARFT: state administration of radio, films and television.

CPD: central propaganda department.

Xinhua: state news agency.

Ministry of public security.

What all is censored??

Newspapers: only healthy news to be reported on.

Television: CNN, Bloomberg television,CNN

Films: broke back mountains, tomb raiders, Memoirs of Geisha, the departed.

Music : guns and roses, rolling stones even i-tunes.

Websites: Wikipedia, facebook, flicker, YouTube, BBC, Google

Video games: hearts of icon, command, conquer.

Literature: still many books burnings and underground publishing factories.

Education: many textbooks omit references to the bower rebellion, opium war, Mao Zedong.

Keywords: impeach, pollution lawsuit, cat abuse, horse racing, mascot, voice of the people forum.

Journalism practices in china

Chinese must defend in their reporting the security, honor and interest of motherland. If published materials are considered dangerous to the state security after they appear in the media the information can be considered classified and the journalist can be prosecuted.

Government uses intimidation to control the media

Dismissals and demotions Libel Fines Closing new outlets Imprisonment

China requires foreign correspondents to get permission before making reporting trips within the country and reporter may face consequences if cover certain issues not acceptable by the Chinese government

Each article written goes thorough 3-4 stages of supervision before publishing.

How censorship effects People of china..

When information is controlled there is no transparency.

Human rights abuses are concealed from the public.

Important news events go unreported Example: SARS outbreak, toxic chemical leaks, food safety incidents etc.

Fears of expressing ones feelings or thoughts.

Lack of knowledge

Not a bad theory but there are several criticisms which can be made of it

Its not all about money this is economically reductionist

e.g. what about ideas, culture, religion?

Marxism makes people appear to be dominated by structures

Puppets or People with the ability to act?

Gender and Race blind the only social groupings it seems to recognise are classes

Now over to you weigh it up.

Like any theory it has good points and bad points - but hopefully you will find it can explain some things about your society

The end
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