Neo-Marxism History

"History has forced Marxist scholars to adapt their theories to new challenges Karl Marx himself was never able to foresee."

- developed after WWI when neo-Marxists saw failure of working-class revolutions in Western Europe

- Marx focused on economic sector but ignored dialectical processes within it, such as politics, religion, mass-media

- emphasizes psychological liberation instead of political revolution

- based on total political-economic-cultural system

- only when individuals are free to express themselves with clarity and reason will liberation occur

Herbert Marcuse (1898-1979)

& technology

- severe critic of modern technology

- rejects idea that technology is neutral in modern world and sees it as means to dominate people (example: TV pacifies the population)

- one-dimensional society --> individuals lose ability to think critically and negatively about society

- Like Marx, believes technology is not inherent evil but could be used to develop a "better" society.

- focus attention on cultural realm

- economic determinists are not wrong but should have concerned themselves with other aspects of social life as well

Jurgen Habermas (1929-)

The New Left

- society must be understood as mix of work, interaction, and power

- emancipated society is free from unnecessary domination of any one interest, and everybody has same opportunity to participate in decisionmaking

- work: efforts to create necessary material resources ("technical interest")

- interaction: use of language and symbols for communication ("practical interest")

- power: groups can become empowered to transform society

4 adequate opportunities for ideal speech situation

(Habermas)

- people can speak

- people can challenge rules or topic of discussion

- people can acquire skills of discourse (including those of the media)

- free of violence and other forms of coercion