Generally speaking, Karl Marx came up with a sociological perspective that has greatly inspired a number of social movements. In addition, his body of thought has triggered revolutionary social change across the world and is the foundation for numerous communist or social governments. More importantly, a number of sociological theorists such as Max Weber, for instance, developed their sociological theories in consultation with Marx’s work. The theories of Marx about economics, society, and politics are collectively referred to as Marxism. They claim that human societies advance via class struggle (Aron, 2017). In other words, societies progress through conflict between a ruling class that controls the forces of production and a laboring class that supplies labor. In this regard, this paper seeks to examine the works of Karl Marx particularly because he recognizes that the ruling class has control over all other societal institutions. Further, he certifies that there is conflict between classes and that capitalism results in competition for limited resources.
Markedly, Marxist sociology is viewed as a significant sociological paradigm and is mainly associated with critical and conflict theories. The main ideas of Marxist sociology are: production mode, historical materialism, and the relationship between labor and capital. Marxist sociology typically focuses on the relationship between the society and economics. However, it is not limited to society and economics (Aron, 2017). It is vital to note that Marx came up with social problems such as social change as well as conflict theory.
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Notably, conflict theory contends that society is not well comprehended as an intricate system striving for balance but instead as a competition. Herein, the society is made up of numerous people competing for fixed resources. Following Karl Marx, there are two major groups in any societies: a subject class (proletariat) and a ruling class (the bourgeoisie). The ruling class is powerful as it gets its power from controlling the production means. Further, the class that rules oppresses and exploits the lower class. Thus, a conflict of interest emerges between the two classes. Marx holds the belief that the labor power of the workers develops real wealth (Carter, 2014) . However, they are paid low wages while the bourgeoisie receive most profits because they own the means of production. He also believes that political together with economic examination of capitalism is responsible for conflict theory. This is because of long working hours, forced labor, low wages, as well as poor working conditions which are under the system of capitalism.
In addition, Marx argues that individuals who have economic power control all other societal institutions. He claimed that those who control the modes of production such as labor, land, and factories have control over the superstructure. To put it simply, the wealthy have political power and have the ability to control the rest of the society. The superstructure in the society includes the legal system, family, mass media, as well as education. At the same time, Marx argues that the bourgeoisie utilize their control of institutions in the society to achieve ideological dominance. The ruling class wanted to gain control over the way individuals think. He suggests that the ruling class’ ideas are presented as natural and common sense and henceforth, the proletariat accept exploitative relationships as the norm.
Ideally, ideological control results in false consciousness where the proletariat think that everything in the society is fine and the conditions in which they work and live is inevitable. Following Marx, the lower class suffer from false consciousness and they further fail to recognize their common interests against the ruling class (Carter, 2014) . All in all, Marx recognizes that capitalism is unjust but individuals do not realize it.
According to Marx, social change is a necessary feature of capitalism and it is common around the world. Herein, the production means and distributing goods such as factory technology, land, and transport system are possessed by a small group of individuals normally referred to as the capitalist class. Marx argues that a revolution will result in the abolishment of private property. Also, the desire to exploit and profit motive will come to an end. In the communist society, individuals will be equal in the society, be happier, and have greater freedom.
Ideally, I chose to write about the works of Karl Marx because his argument about the ruling class having control over other institutions in the society is interesting. According to Marx, those who have economic power also control societal institutions primarily because they control the means of production. Therefore, they are able to control the rest of the society. Further, because the ruling class control all institutions in the society, they use this power to achieve ideological dominance. Presently, a few wealthy people in the society control the mainstream media and they use this platform to promote the beliefs and ideas that maintain the ruling class’ wealthy position. Consequently, individuals in the society accept ideas and beliefs which favor capitalism and justify the exploitation of workers as normal.
Secondly, Karl Marx’s theory is interesting as he acknowledges that there is conflict between classes in a capitalist society. Marx asserts that there exists two major classes in the society namely the bourgeoisie and the proletariat. The bourgeoisie are those who control the means of production whereas the proletariat are those who provide labor to make a living. In most cases, the bourgeoisie exploit the proletariat hence there is inequality between the two classes. The proletariat work under poor working conditions, have long working hours and, at the same time, they receive low wages. As a result, conflict between the two classes arises because of conflicting interests.
Evidently, class conflict is present in today’s society. Generally, the society today has three classes which include: the ruling class, middle class, and lower class. The class that rules controls the means of production; thus, they have the power to control the masses. Presently, those who provide labor work hard to make ends meet while at the same time making massive profits for their companies. At times, they are underpaid therefore they have to work for long hours to provide for their families.
Thirdly, Marx’s idea that capitalism results in competition for limited resources is interesting. Marx argues that capitalism will eventually create social conditions that would result in its downfall. Capitalists would have to sell products at lower prices to stay competitive in the market thereby leading to a reduction in profits. Consequently, capitalists reduce the wages of the workers and increase efficiency, making the proletariat’s working conditions worse. According to Marx, increasing oppression of the proletariat would result in a revolution in which the workers would throw off their exploiters. This idea is relevant in today’s society. For the most part, companies sell their products at reduced prices to remain competitive in the business world. As a result, they oppress their workers by forcing them to work for long working hours to increase efficiency and they further pay them low wages.
In conclusion, the ideas of Karl Marx have influenced numerous fields of thought and have certainly played a pivotal role in the development of sociology. Also, Marx has influenced many sociological theorists. All in all, controversies and debates over Marxism continue to shape the growth of sociology as a discipline up to the present time. Therefore, appreciating Karl Marx’s contribution to sociology is of essence.
Reference
ARON, R. (2017). Main Currents in Sociological Thought: Montesquieu, comte, marx, tocqueville and the sociologists... and the revolution of 1848 . S.l.: ROUTLEDGE.
Carter, B. (2014). Capitalism, Class Conflict and the New Middle Class (RLE Social Theory). London: Routledge.
Milios, J. (2017). Karl Marx And the Classics: An essay on value, crises and the capitalist mode of production . S.l.: Routledge.
