How do people make a living?

Compulsory online module: “Fostering A Community

of Respect: Creating a Harassment-free Environment”
• The module “Fostering A Community of Respect: Creating a
Harassment-free Environment” was rolled out at the beginning of
this semester.

• Please take some time to complete it if you have not already done so.

• It may be found on NTULearn under “Student Life Modules”.

• The module aims to bring awareness to ALL students on what

constitutes harassment, and how each and every student can play a
role in building a conducive and safe living, learning and working
environment at NTU that is free from harassment.

• Please note that if you do not complete the module by the end of
the semester, your examination results for this semester will not
be released to you.
 Outline: September th
09 , 2019
• Marx – Class conflicts and class
consciousness under Capitalism

The Corporation, directed by Mark Achbar.

2005.
 Property relations,
control and ownership

Marx's Model of Class

Control labor of Do not control labor of
others others

Own means of
production Capitalists Petite Bourgeoisie

Do not own means of

production Workers Workers
 Class Conflict under Capitalism
• Conflicts as inherent and inevitable:
the logic of capitalism was to exploit workers to
realize profit, while workers’ exploitation would
lead them eventually to challenge the system –
when they become aware of their identity as an
exploited and oppressed class.
 Class and Class Consciousness
• If workers become aware of their identity as an
exploited class – Marx called this gaining a class
consciousness – hypothesized leading to revolution.
• Those in power have access to means to promote a
reality that justifies their exploitive actions or distracts
people’s attention away from their oppression
• Dominant ideology promotes a false consciousness
were people in lower classes come to accept a belief
system that prevents revolution = “the ideas of the
ruling class are in every epoch the ruling ideas.”
 Weaknesses and Strengths
• Marxian class model (Karl Marx – 1818-1883)
“The history of all hitherto existing society
is the history of class struggles”
 3 Branches/Traditions of Sociology
• III. The attempt to change the social world

• a) Combining the search for laws (I) and the

nature of meaning (II) or “consciousness”

b) Conflict, radical engagement

KARL MARX
• Documentary film clip:

“The Corporation”
(Total length: 144 minutes;
Class showing: 55 minutes)
 Multinational corporations
• Global Economy
• Advantages
E.g. Less expensive goods
E.g. Improvement of living conditions in some areas

• Social problems
E.g. Higher unemployment in countries losing manufacturing
E.g. Exploitation of workers in developing countries