Marxism is a structural theory that views society as being in conflict due to opposing class interests. It argues that society is divided into two main classes: the bourgeoisie who own the means of production and the proletariat who must work for the bourgeoisie. This leads to an exploitative relationship and inevitable conflict that can only be resolved through proletariat revolution and establishment of a communist system. Marxism influenced other social theories and provided a structural understanding of how economic forces shape social institutions, but it has also been criticized for being too focused on conflict and for its assumptions not being supported by the fall of communist regimes.

1. Theory: Classical Marxism (conflict)
Famous Marxists: Karl Marx, Frederick Engels,
Key Ideas
Marxism is a structural theory (sometimes called a macro theory) that studies sociology as a whole.
 Marxism has wider theoretical appeal. It has been a major influence on other social theories such
Strengths
Marxists are critical of capitalist societies which they see see as a society of two parts. The first
component or the foundation of society is the economic base, (infrastructure). The second as Weberian sociology and Feminism.
component is the superstructure, which includes major agencies of social control such as education,
medicine and religion.  It offers a structural approach which emphasises the importance of the economy in modern
capitalist society and links the major social institutions together. Marxism argues that the various parts
Marxists believe that society can only be understood if we focus on the fact that capitalist societies of society are inter-related and effect one another. Marxism also attempts to link the structural
are based on conflict, and strive for society to be run by communism. Marxists say that the conflict elements of society with the consciousness of the individual.
is class-based and that there are two classes who have very different aims in life. These two groups
are the bourgeoisie or the ruling class who own the means of production, such as land and
factories, and the proletariat or the working class who own only their labour power and have to
 Marxism accounts for the revolutionary upheaval as societies go through large-scale change.
work for the ruling class in order to survive. The ruling class exploit the working class on two levels – Since people make society, only people can change society e.g. Russia and Eastern Europe.
low pay and alienating work.
Conflict arises because the working classes want higher wages and more benefits and the ruling
classes want to maximise their profits. Classical Marxists would say that this conflict will continue
forever unless the working classes unite and gain class consciousness and become a class for itself,
(they are aware of their exploitation) and eventually overthrow the ruling classes through a revolution.
Marx predicted such a revolution and because of this social change would be inevitable.
The ruling class control the economic base and the superstructure (structures in society such as
religion and education). The working classes are therefore subject to ideological conditioning, by
the ruling classes. Therefore the working classes are in a state of false class consciousness, which
means that they are not aware of the full extent of their exploitation.
 Marxism has been criticised by functionalists for over-emphasising conflict in society. It is evident
Weaknesses
that in order for society to work there must be harmony and shared values.
Method
Links to
Often sit between the positivist/interpretivist divide. 1. Positivist, as they look for the social causes of  Marxism can be criticised for its economic determinism. This is because they make the assumption
behaviour. 2. Interpretivist, because they often favour qualitative methods. that economic needs shape everything in society e.g. religion and education.
 The evidence of communism not working shows that Marxist theory is no longer viable. The
Application of Marxism
Education
collapse of Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union suggests that the promise of communism has been
1. Education serves to reproduce and justify the social class structure through its socialisation replaced by the desire for western-style democracies.
role e.g. the hidden curriculum instils acceptance of hierarchies and alienation.
2. Education reproduces the social class structure by allocating individuals to jobs on the
basis of social class rather than merit.
Health
1. Medicine acts as a vital form of social control as it maintains a healthy workforce and
directs attention away from the social causes of ill health.
Religion
1. Marx believes that religion prevents social change and is the ‘opiate of the masses’.
Crime
1. Crime in society is caused by economic inequality and capitalist values.
2. Laws are created to maintain the power and privilege of the ruling class (e.g. trade union
laws).
3. The police selectively enforce the law against the working class (e.g. more working class
than middle class arrests).