Assessing Merits and Limitations of the Ideas of Karl Marx

Assessing Merits and Limitations of the Ideas of Karl Marx

Marxism, or scientific socialism as it is also known, became

particularly popular during the 1970s as the realisation that

functionalism was flawed became apparent, as it regarded

stratification as a divisive rather than an integrative structure. It

takes its name from the founder Karl Marx (1818-1883), and centres

around the grand theory that 'Capitalist society creates class

inequalities and alienation, which can only be removed through the

revolutionary actions of the working class'. Surrounded by both

support and critique, Marx has provided influence within politics and

economics and an opposing argument to both Functionalism and Weberism

as a sociological perspective.

Marx noted that in order to survive we enter relationships in order to

ensure production - The forces of production and the relations of

production, which together form the economic basic or infrastructure

of society. The other aspect of society, known as the superstructure

is shaped by the infrastructure. So for example, the education system

is shaped by economic factors according to Marx: any change in the

Infrastructure will thus lead to changes in the superstructure. This

has been subject to numerous criticisms. Interactionists, for example,

argue that Marx's concept of economic determinism places too much

stress on the economy as determining all social life, and overlooks

influences such as gender, ethnicity, Age and the power of the

individual. Gramsci argues that it is not the economy that shapes

society. Instead he refers to the way in which societies members are

seen to construct society for t...

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...en claimed by many that Marxism is no longer applicable to

modern day society, however, it cannot be denied that his line of

reasoning at the time of writing was credible, and in response, evoked

much debate over the function, position and future of society.

Bibliography

Browne, Ken, An Introduction to Sociology, Cambridge: Polity Press,

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Elster, Jon, An Introduction to Karl Marx, Cambridge: Cambridge

University Press, 1986.

Haralambos, Michael, Sociology: themes and perspectives: 5th edition,

London: Collins, 2000.

Marx, Karl and Frederick Engels, Basic writings on politics and

philosophy, London: Fontana, 1969.

O'Donnell, Mike, Introduction to Sociology: 4th Edition,

Walton-on-Thames: Nelson, 1997

Taylor, Steve, The sociology of suicide (Sociology in focus), Harlow:

Longman, 1988.