Class in Australia

Class in Communication * Marx: An individual’s position within class hierarchy > determined by his/her role in the production process. Argues political/ideological consciousness is determined by class position. * Marx argues > distinct hierarchy determined by wealth/education & capacity within society but an overthrow of ruling class > working class (proletariats) can gain upward social mobility > better society. * Class and class conflict in Australia, Kuhn and O’Lincoln address struggles of working class from an economic standpoint in relation to crime, suggesting Australian working class, due to their status from birth are more likely to end up in prison. “Working class crime is the most conspicuous because of the relative powerlessness of individual workers” (What Marx wanted to effect and transform with his manifesto through a communist revolution) * Weber: Believed class position > determined by person's skills/education rather than by their relationship to means of production. Marx & Weber agreed social stratification was undesirable, however where Marx believed stratification would disappear along with capitalism/private property. Weber believe solution lay in providing "equal opportunity" within competitive/capitalist system

* Economic Wealth and Political Power in Australia; Murray and Chesters
Murray & Chester’s analysis of upper strata Australian class hierarchy & how their wealth/power allows them to transcend bounds of media/governmental influence addresses Weber’s classist theory. Australian economics transformed over time – land > exports > media > private property (neoliberalism now) wealth/power is connected to media and government Rupert Murdoch put all his power behind Whitlam’s labour election – Whitlam refused to appoint Murdoch as Australia’s High Commissioner in London so he exerted his power through the media to completely discredit Whitlam’s position * E.P. Thompson: