Marxist view of Stratification
The history of all hitherto existing society is the history of class struggle.
Karl Marx, The Communist Manifesto, 1848.
The Marxian explanation of social stratification emerged out of his analysis of
19th century capitalist societies. Karl Marx believed that social stratification is
essentially class stratification. Thus to him, classes constitute the main strata in
all societies.
Marx Theory of Class:
•
The individual’s relationship to the means of production determines their life
situation.
•
There are two life situations:
1. Capitalist/Bourgeois – owns the means of production; finance, land &
technology to produce
2. Worker – own their labour; which they sell for wages.
•
Capitalist society is inherently exploitative
•
Both classes are diametrically opposed & in continual conflict
•
Class conflict is inevitable.
•
Surplus value of labour or profits are accumulated by the capitalists
•
Members of the working class are unaware of their class (common interest) &
relationship to the means of production.
•
Class consciousness grows as people begin to realize they have a common
interest.
•
Class conflict is political conflict, which is inevitable in capitalist society.
•
Worker-class consciousness would lead to a ‘proletarian’ revolution – i.e. the
overthrow of the ruling class, to create a classless society.
Features of the Class Stratified Society
1.
Capitalist controls political power, since they control the means of
production.
2.
Capitalists constitute a minority group, who hold the majority of wealth
3.
The dominant ideas of an epoch/period are usually those that originate and
or are perpetuated by the ruling class
4.
All the major institutions in a society reflect the interests of the ruling class.