Marxism is a useful conflict theory in helping us to understand why there was obedience, particularly in the past in society. Marx was seen as an economic determinist, as he believed that the functioning and running of society was based upon the economy. Because of this, Marx says that is why there was a divide between the proletariat (working class who have only their skills to sell) and the bourgeoisie (the ruling class who own the means of production). The bourgeoisie cannot operate without the proletariat, as they cannot produce products, and similarly the proletariat cannot operate without the bourgeoisie, as they need them so they can be paid a wage and feed their families. Therefore, even though the Bourgeoisie were exploiting the proletariat and the proletariat could have walked away to stop being exploited, they never walked away as they needed the money. On the other hand, this can be viewed from a different perspective. The reason why these people may have not left their jobs is because they could have been in a state of false consciousness, whereby they were unaware of their exploitation by the bourgeoisie. This helps us to understand society as the Marxism theory provides reasoning on how the bourgeoisie were able to exploit the proletariat, which in turn fuelled capitalism and allowed the ruling elite to maintain their profits. It is also relevant to today’s society, as it helps to explain why many people who are in a hard laboured, low paid job (e.g. Factory workers) do not leave, despite hating their job, and this is because they need the money to survive.…
Marx then goes into the first part of the body of his manifesto entitled "Bourgeois and Proletarians." In this part, he goes into how society started communal but then became more unequal as time went on. Systems such as Feudalism, Mercantilism, and Capitalism benefited from the use of exploitation. He first introduces the idea that economic concerns of a nation drive history, and that the struggle between the rich bourgeoisie and the hard working proletariat would eventually lead to Communism. He goes on and on about how the bourgeois have always got what they wanted. Marx reflected more on the negatives committed by the bourgeois than the positives. He states the bourgeoisie "has agglomerated population, centralized means of production, and has concentrated property in a few hands." (Marx, p.8) He then describes the proletarians, or the labor class, and how they were formed, how they have suffered, and how they must overcome their struggles. Marx declares that this “dangerous class,” the social scum, that passively rotting mass thrown off by the lowest layers of old society, may, here and there, be swept into the movement by a proletarian revolution." (Marx, p.15) This began an inevitable revolution where the proletariats take over and dethrone the bourgeoisie.…
For centuries, many philosophers have discussed the issue of class struggle. Karl Marx and Andrew Carnegie both developed theories of the unequal distribution of wealth a long time ago; however the only Carnegie’s ideology could apply to American society today. In “The Communist Manifesto”, Marx first introduces the two main social classes: bourgeois (the upper class) and proletarians (the lower class or working class). He points out the revolution of industrialism has made changes of Capitalism to Communism. He suggests that the rich should redistribute property evenly because the proletarians have put a lot effort contributing in the revolution. In contrast, Carnegie analyzes in “The Gospel of Wealth”, the unequal distribution of wealth is a natural consequence of civilization. Both Marx and Carnegie present the problem within society because they want to contribute their own experiences from various views to resolve the tension between the rich and poor efficiently.…
In society there are many different factors which divide us and result in social inequality. In this essay, I will be covering social class. Karl Marx believed that in society, there are two major social classes, the bourgeoisie and the proletariats. The bourgeoisie are basically the upper class; in order for you to be classed as a part of them you must own the means of production such as factories etc. In order for these factories to run, they would need workers, which is where the proletariats come in. The proletariat only owns their labour force which they sell in order for a wage. Karl Marx stated that the proletariats are exploited through low pay and poor work conditions, but due to capitalism, we deal with it as were tied down to the economy.…
The bourgeoisie property owning class and the proletariat industrial working class clashed and created a class struggle. To Marx and Engels, this meant that the capitalist bourgeoisie class exploited the proletariat. The work done by the proletariat allowed for a large amount of wealth for the bourgeoisie, and the product created in the factories were sold for more than the value of the labor. The capitalist, who has control over process of production, makes the profit, whereas the workers do not benefit from their own labor.…
Karl Marx a sociologist, economist and especially a political theorist wrote The Communist Manifesto, one of the most significant pro communism manuscripts, in the year 1848. During this time period the Industrial Revolution was blooming which had created two separate classes. Marx characterizes this class difference as a form of social inequality between the Proletariats and Bourgeoisies. According to Marx these two classes arose mainly due to Industry Revolution and its blooming economic markets.…
Karl Marx was a sociologist, economist, and author of “The Communist Manifesto,” which is still, to this day, the most famous piece of literature related to socialism written. His work laid the foundation for other leaders in communism such as Vladimir Lenin. One of the theories Karl Marx is most known for is Marxism; Marxism is, in short, a system of socialism where the prominent feature is the public ownership of the means of production, distribution, and exchange. With capitalism, the public only own their ability to work, and then, in return, sell their own labor. Marx believes a class is defined by the relation of its members to the means of production, and that the struggle of the classes is embedded in history.…
Karl Marx, who had a profound impact in sociology, raised political and economic awareness, Throughout his writings, he explains the effect production has on society and explores the relationships between different social classes. Marx shows the vital role labor plays in social hierarchy and reminds readers of the negative attributes associated with labor. Karl Marx provides commentary on labor and social classes, which is seen in “Alienation and Social Class,” “Classes in Capitalism and Pre-Capitalism,” and “Ideology and Class.”…
In the Communist Manifesto it is very clear that Marx is concerned with the organization of society. He sees that the majority individuals in society, the proletariat, live in sub-standard living conditions while the minority of society, the bourgeoisie, have all that life has to offer. However, his most acute observation was that the bourgeoisie control the means of production that separate the two classes (Marx #11 p. 250). Marx notes that this is not just a recent development rather a historical process between the two classes and the individuals that compose it. "It [the bourgeois] has but established new classes, new conditions of oppression, and new forms of struggle in…
The second concept crucial to understanding Marx is the Manifesto of the Communist Party. The Manifesto of The Communist Party, explains the struggle within the classes and the survival of a class. “Hitherto existing society is the history of class struggle” (Marx p120). Karl Marx states that all the changes that occur in society, and political institutions are caused and shaped by a societal struggle of groups with similar economic problems.Marx begins by analyzing the Bourgeoisie class and explaining its struggle against the feudal society. The feudal society was dominated by a monarch or ruler, then came the nobles, knights and at the bottom the working class or peasants. This class system was not working due to the classes ending up stacked,…
A major argument that Marx put across in his scripts was that capitalism would force society to polarise, causing two classes within society, the bourgeoisie and the proletariat. These classes were at both extremes of the social spectrum, the bourgeoisie been the rich "fat cats" who reeped the fruits of capitalism, they were normally the factory or…
Marx saw the basic division in society as existing between owners and non-owners of the means of production. Marxist sociology and economic theory posited the class struggle between the bourgeoisie and the proletariat. Karl Marx embraced the change from agrarian to the industrial revolution for the reason that the industrial revolution gave the lower class civilians a chance to engage and benefit the opportunities that existed in the industrial revolution and that were once so considered impossible for them. Although this was a great change, there lies one problem, the workers or proletariat were oppressed. Marx had a great existential theory that the capitalist society was in fact exploiting the proletariat, they were selling the ability to work that they consumed in exchange for monetary value but in contrast were not receiving fair wages; as in barely getting by for day to day living; to put it simply the proletariat were not receiving their share of the profits. Marx stated that the proletariat were simply servants to the means of production that the…
Marx developed a key theory called Marxism which is designed to promote the good in society. It is a response to modernity which is modern belief that societies can be transformed for the better. He argues for the working class and witnesses their exploitation. He defined the working class as individuals who sell their labour for wages. These people also do not own the means of production he believed that they were the reason for the wealth in society. He declared that the working class physically build buildings and bridges, craft furniture, grow food, and nurse children, but do not own land, or factories.…
Karl Marx wanted the equality between the proletariat and the bourgeoisie. Rachel McHenry wrote about his theories, “It was also Marx's belief that before complete equality…
Karl Marx believed that society is based upon a conflict between Bourgeoisies (Ruling class, Upper class) and Proletariat (Working class). Marx believed that the ruling class were exploiting the working class.…