Global Stratification: Karl Marx

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Every societal group holds variances between its members. Social stratification is a system in which people are divided into separate groups based on their socio-economic status. Rankings come from different categories including ethnic status, age, gender, occupation, education level, and property. Different systems of social stratification include class, caste, and slavery. Due to wealth and poverty, there is an unequal distribution of means between the separate groups, which creates social inequality.
Karl Marx believed modern society consisted of two classes of people: the bourgeoisie and the proletariat. The bourgeoisie ruled production; meaning they owned the companies and the equipment to produce capital. The proletariat is the laborers. Max Weber took Marx’s theory and formed his own theory consisting of three components comprising of class, status, and power. Social stratification is a part of all societies, and according to Elwell (n.d.), Gerhard Lenski said, “human societies are part of the global ecosystem and cannot be understood unless this factor is taken fully into account.” Lenski holds the belief that power determines the sharing of goods and services. According to Emile Durkheim, within a society, there are two types of inequalities – external and internal. External can be described as inequalities due to attributed status such as conditions of birth. Internal are described as inequalities based on the individuals talent or successes.
Social stratification is an acceptable form of patterned social inequality. Class based systems of stratification are the most common today. The elements of social class include income, prestige, occupation, and educational achievement. Class systems are open, and because the c...

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Marshall, A. G. (2010, March 30). Western civilization and the economic crisis: The impoverishment of the middle class. Retrieved from http://www.globalresearch.ca/western-civilization-and-the-economic-crisis-the- impoverishment-of-the-middle-class/18386
Martinez, E. 2014, January 26). There are many social classes based on money. Message posted to https://herkimer.sln.suny.edu/section/default.asp?id=201420-HER-NS-SS-153-V1
Sankaran, L. (2013, June 15). Caste Is Not Past. Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/16/opinion/sunday/caste-is-not-past.html
Slavery. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.boundless.com/sociology/ -open-textbook/global- stratification-and-inequality/stratification-systems/slavery/
Social stratification. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://instruction.blackhawk.edu/ghoffarth/sociology/socunit7.htm

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