Theories of Sociology

Running head: THEORIES OF SOCIOLOGY
THEORIES OF SOCIOLOGY
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1THEORIES OF SOCIOLOGY
Topic 1: Marxism and beyond
One of the social theories that cannot be missed while discussing in regard to social
theories is Marxism. Marxism is a body of doctrine that was developed by the German
philosopher and economist Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels during the 19th century. Marxism is
the philosophy that analyses the consequences of capitalism on labors, productivity and
economic development. The struggle between social classes is posited by Marxism specifically
between the bourgeoisie and proletariat, also known as capitalists and workers (Lichtheim,
2015).
According to Marxists, socio-economic differences among people have a significant way
of impacting society. The difference in socioeconomic class divides people in a more substantial
way than race, religion, ethnicity, gender and geography. The two groups are in a constant
struggle for resources and power. Society is perceived as a set of groups competing for resources
and power. Since the capitalists are socially and politically powerful, the power mainly relies on
them leaving the workers poor and depended on the capitalists. It is a power struggle between the
owners of the capital and the labor (Fromm & Anderson, 2017). Every social and political
activity is for gaining and sustaining the economic power that comes along with social power as
well. Dialecticism is an associated term that explains that everything has two sides and the
centrality of contradiction and reality is the idea of contradiction. While the powerful group
struggles to sustain their power in the society with oppression and exploitation, another group
struggles to get the economic power to survive in the society with revolutions.