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Unlock This CourseMarxism is one of the major sociological perspectives that helps us understand how society works. It was developed in the 19th century by Karl Marx and his collaborator Friedrich Engels. Unlike functionalism (which sees society as working harmoniously), Marxism focuses on conflict and inequality in society, particularly between social classes.
Key Definitions:
Karl Marx (1818-1883) was a German philosopher, economist, historian and revolutionary socialist. He spent much of his life in London after being exiled from his native Germany. His most famous works include "The Communist Manifesto" (1848) and "Das Kapital" (1867). Marx didn't just want to understand society - he wanted to change it!
Marx believed that economic factors are the main influence on how society is organised. The way we produce goods (the economy) shapes everything else in society - our politics, education, family life and even our ideas and beliefs.
For example, in a capitalist society, schools prepare students to be workers in factories and offices, while laws protect private property and business interests.
Marx argued that society is divided into two main classes with opposing interests: the bourgeoisie (owners) and the proletariat (workers). This creates an ongoing conflict as the bourgeoisie try to maximise profits by paying workers as little as possible, while workers try to improve their conditions.
Marx saw this conflict as the driving force of social change throughout history.
One of Marx's key ideas is that society consists of two main parts:
The economic foundation of society - how goods are produced and who owns the means of production. In capitalism, this means privately owned businesses, factories and the profit-driven market.
Everything else in society that is built on top of the economic base - including politics, law, education, religion, media, family and culture.
The base shapes the superstructure. The economic system influences how our institutions work and even how we think. The superstructure then helps maintain the economic base by making it seem natural and inevitable.
Marx argued that capitalism is built on the exploitation of workers. Workers create value through their labour, but only receive a fraction of this value as wages. The rest (called "surplus value") is taken as profit by the capitalist owners. For example, if a worker makes products worth £100 in a day but is only paid £50, the remaining £50 is surplus value that goes to the owner.
In capitalist societies, Marx believed workers become alienated (disconnected) in four main ways:
Think about someone working on an assembly line doing the same small task repeatedly, never seeing the finished product and having no say in how their work is organised.
Marx argued that the ruling class doesn't just control the economy - they also control ideas. The working class often develops "false consciousness" - they accept ideas that actually work against their interests. For example, believing that extreme wealth inequality is natural or that anyone can become rich if they work hard enough.
The dominant ideas in society (ideology) tend to justify the existing economic system and make it seem natural, inevitable and fair.
Consider how advertisements often promote the idea that happiness comes from buying products. This benefits capitalism by encouraging consumption, but doesn't necessarily reflect what truly makes people happy. Similarly, the idea that poverty results from laziness (rather than structural factors) helps justify inequality while blaming the poor for their situation.
Marxists see education as reproducing class inequality. Schools prepare working-class children for working-class jobs by teaching obedience and punctuality. Meanwhile, private schools give upper-class children advantages through better resources and connections. The hidden curriculum teaches children to accept hierarchy and competition as normal.
For Marxists, the family serves capitalism by:
While Marx was writing about 19th-century industrial capitalism, many sociologists have updated his ideas for today's world:
Neo-Marxists examine how capitalism now operates globally. Multinational corporations can move production to countries with lower wages and fewer regulations. This creates a global working class with even less power against international capital.
Antonio Gramsci developed the concept of hegemony - how the ruling class maintains power through cultural leadership and winning consent, not just through force. Media, entertainment and education shape our values and make capitalist ideas seem like common sense.
Try using Marxist ideas to analyse something in your own life. For example, think about a popular film or TV show. Does it present wealth as the result of hard work? Does it show poor people as deserving their situation? Does it normalise consumption and materialism? This is how Marxists analyse media as part of the superstructure that supports capitalism.
Marxism provides a powerful lens for understanding society by focusing on economic inequality, class conflict and power relationships. While it has limitations, its insights into how economic systems shape our lives remain valuable for sociological analysis. Whether or not you agree with Marx's solutions, his analysis of capitalism's contradictions and problems continues to influence social thought today.