The Relevance of Marxist Theory in Sociology in the 21st Century

This article will introduce the Marxist theory of class conflict, private property, and exploitative transactions. It will also explore the Marxist view of the state and the class struggle. While this is a broad overview, the following sections will provide more detailed information. Ultimately, this article will help you decide if Marxism is the right path for you. Hopefully, this article has been informative and helpful to you. Please consider reading the full article before making any conclusions.

Marxist theory of private property

The Marxist theory of private property in sociology is based on the fact that capitalism is a system of capitalism that is capable of leading to its own downfall. Capitalism created a new class of working class people and made profits from their relationship with the factors of production. However, the working class resented this system and forced the capitalists to reduce their profits. This created a class conflict and increased competition.

In contrast, self-earned private property is based on the fusion of an individual with the conditions of labour, while capitalistic private property relies on the exploitation of nominally free or wage labour. Marx weaves a historical narrative of individual private property and the bourgeoisie’s ownership of the material world. He calls this process of bourgeoisie accumulation “primitive accumulation.”

Despite these differences, the basic idea behind Marx’s theory of private property is the same: the existence of private property is not a natural or organic process. It is a product of alienated labor. Consequently, private property is the result of this process. It creates a class that is alienated from its labour, and it is a result of this. However, the abolition of private property is not an easy task.

The earliest societies had no specialized means of production, and people were generally engaged in communal activities. But as people started to specialize and become independent, the concept of surplus emerged and alienation was created. This was further complicated by the exchange of goods and services. Furthermore, small-scale production brought about a form of alienation. The bourgeoisie held the means of production, while the majority of people were alienated from these activities.

Marxist theory of class conflict

The Marxist theory of class conflict in sociology focuses on the social dimension of all spheres of activity. The goal is to end exploitation and make each activity the conscious activity of associated producers in a classless society. The theory is conceived as developing in harmony with the proletarian revolution. Sociologists often accept the notion of alienation. But in this context, Marxism has an important role to play.

According to Marx, class conflict can occur in societies where economic differences create divisions among classes. Marx focused on class conflict in Europe because of the economic, political, and social consequences of capitalism. According to Marx, this system created class conflict because of the unequal distribution of wealth throughout history. This, in turn, led to social inequality. Although his theory focuses on class conflict, it has been used by many sociologists to explain power struggles in society.

According to Marx, class is property ownership. This is the reason why social positions are associated with a certain level of coercion. According to Dahrendorf, “a class’s power is the probability that its command will be obeyed.”

While Marxism focuses on class conflict, later generations have focused on the social conditions of individual classes. Oftentimes, a momentous class conflict can destabilize class relations. But in general, the Marxist theory of class conflict in sociology predicts that this conflict will never reach such levels as to lead to profound social changes. It is important to understand the role of class conflict in modern society before making a decision to engage in it.

Marxist theory of exploitative transactions

The Marxist theory of exploitative transactions in sociological terms emphasizes the notion that exploitation is the taking of someone else’s resources for your own gain. This is the case when monopolists charge excessive prices and/or owners damage natural resources. Marxists’ theory of exploitation is based on the labour theory of value, where the difference between a worker’s wages and capitalist values is the surplus value.

According to Marx, exploitation is any form of work done in which the worker has no choice but to sell their labor power to someone else. This type of transaction entails a great deal of inequality in economic power and benefits. In other words, the worker receives an inordinately small share of the goods. Ultimately, workers do not gain any benefit from wage transactions, which are only a means to an end for the capitalists.

According to Marx, capitalists use their power to set wages and hours and then sell the goods and services produced by laborers at a higher price than what they paid. Essentially, they enrich themselves by exploiting the labor of others. However, the poor conditions that the workers of Manchester faced were an example of what is called an “exploitation of labor”.

According to Marx, exploitation occurs in all class-based societies. In fact, in feudal societies, the exploitative nature of class relations becomes particularly obvious. In this society, the serfs and corvee, both use some of their labor power for their own benefit. The slaves, on the other hand, seem to work only for the master. Those who do not have access to capital, however, may be the ones who benefit from the expropriation.

Marxist view of the state

A major criticism of the Marxist view of the state is its instrumentalistic nature. Engels and Marx did not explicitly state this, but followers of Marx have argued that the state often played an instrumental role, favoring the bourgeoisie. Therefore, for the state to be neutral and impartial, it must act in the interests of workers. However, it is difficult to judge whether the state is instrumental or not. A Marxist view of the state may be more radical than the views of many conservatives.

The state is a product of society. It grew out of the property interests of those who had it. This created a conflict between property owners and non-owners. The state thus evolved into a means to achieve those interests. However, it also creates a monopoly system that is detrimental to society. Hence, a Marxist view of the state stresses that the state cannot serve the interests of its citizens alone.

Critics of the Marxist view of the state have pointed out that it denies the class-nature of the state. While rejecting these propositions, Marxists do not discount the other functions of the state. The monopoly on capital is an example of a state that acts in the interests of a privileged class. In this view, the state is a tool of exploitation, and a means of dominating the rest of society.

From a Marxist point of view, the state becomes a centralized exploitation organization that confronts the proletariat directly. The state determines market prices, assigns rations to preserve labor power, and uses military authorities to carry out its organizing functions. Furthermore, the state is constructed in a military-style, with a huge army to maintain order. A Marxist view of the state implies that the state must be reformed to restore social order.

Relevance of Marxist theory in 21st century

The relevance of Marxist theory in Sociology in the 21st century is questionable, despite the widespread acceptance of capitalism. The rise of socialist politicians such as Bernie Sanders in the United States and Jeremy Corbyn in the UK has increased interest in Marx. In the mid-19th century, he travelled throughout Europe and saw the vast disparities in wealth and poverty. Marx explained this inequality in terms of unequal access to property and resources. Essentially, the ruling class was exploiting the working class.

While classical Marxism focused on the economic aspects of class oppression, most forms of neo-Marxism focus more on the ideological dimension of oppression. The neo-Marxist mode of theory focuses on the societal and political implications of capitalism, while critical theory is influenced by Gramsci. But the relevance of Marxist theory in Sociology in the 21st century depends on the way we conceptualize social inequality in the 21st century.

Moreover, the theory explains the paradox of social power and social isolation in contemporary capitalist societies. These societies are increasingly alienated, with feelings of powerlessness and loneliness increasing despite objective increases in social power and interdependence. And if we do not understand this paradox, then we cannot adequately understand what causes it. Ultimately, Marxist theory in Sociology is the basis of social science today.

According to Marxist theory, capitalism has created two classes: workers and bourgeoisie. Workers are obliged to exchange their labor for wages, while the bourgeoisie owns the means of production and generates profit by paying workers less than the value of the goods they produce. If you study the history of capitalism, you will learn why capitalism is the most unjust system in the world.