Sociology 303
Sociological Theory
Fall 2002
Dr. Scott Schaffer

Week 10 Discussion Questions: Marx, "Wage Labour and Capital," Capital volume III; "Crisis Theory"; Manifesto of the Communist Party (MER pp. 203-216, 439-500)

Due Date: Tues Nov 5/2002 at the start of class

1. What forms of power are expressed in the wage relationship between a particular proletarian and a particular bourgeois? Between proletarians and bourgeoisie as classes? Why does Marx focus on classes as the basis of the social structure, and what are the ramifications of this for his theory?

2. In "Crisis Theory," Marx focuses on two key issues: the nature and discourse surrounding economic crises; and the process of commodification. How does he describe these issues? How does the capitalist class structure depend on these processes? What kinds of problems are introduced into the capitalist class structure by these issues?

3. What is money, according to Marx? What kind of power is created by money? Why is money the key medium of relationships under capitalism, and how does this relate to the other kinds of relationships we've seen in Marx's work?

4. In the "Manifesto," what does Marx say is the most important force for the improvement of the situation of the proletariat? What aspects of his theoretical background lead him to this conclusion, and why?

5. For Marx, class consciousness does not arise out of nowhere, but rather is the result of what important part of bourgeois society? Why does the bourgeoisie provide the proletariat with the tools the proletariat needs to bring about the destruction of capitalist society?

6. What is the reasoning Marx develops in claiming that the theory of the Communists must be "the abolition of private property" (p. 484)? What does he want to introduce in the place of private property?

7. Given what you've read of Marx's work so far, outline the power dimensions in the capitalist mode of production at the micro, meso, and macro levels of analysis. To Marx's mind, which group holds the real power in capitalist societies? What prevents them from exercising it? What benefits would come from the exercise of this power?