Social Stratification Analysis

Introduction

In the following, I am going to analyse Marx and Weber 's social conflict views of stratification and in what way their views resemble and to what extend they differ from each other. At first, I will provide an explanation of stratification in general. Thereupon, I will define Karl Marx 's ideas and point of view of stratification. Then I am going to analyse Max Weber ' s aspects of stratification. Lastly, I am going to compare their views and state the similarities and differences between them.

Stratification in general

There have always been and there will always be differences among people in a society. Due to these differences, people are ranked in a hierarchy of status by the society. This is called stratification. All

Social stratification carries over from generation to generation.

The social position of parents is usually transferred on to their children. When the caste system was still established in India, the parents directly transferred their social position and status to their children, as they were born in the same caste as their parents. The caste system is admittedly an extreme example, because there was no mobility between castes possible. However, in today 's society, there is social mobility possible. Individuals can move upward, downward or horizontal in their social position. By unemployment or job-related failures, people can move downward. By achieving success or fame, people can move upward. Often, people move horizontally, e.g. by a job change, but in the same social level.

3. Social stratification is universal but variable.

Universal means, that there is social stratification in every society. However, the degree of inequality varies from society to society.

4. Social stratification involves not just inequality but beliefs as well.

This can be seen by the fact that inequality is accepted in the society.

Class and Caste

The substructure forms the base of society. It includes the means of production and the relations of production which relates to the relation between the bourgeoisie and the proletariat. The superstructure includes philosophy, culture, religion, etc., the factors that do not belong to the economic system. As the superstructure is based on the means of production, the substructure forms the superstructure. Marx thought that social stratification is created by the unequal access to the productive properties. The capitalist or also called the bourgeoisie, exploit their workers by only paying them as much as necessary to scratch a living. The workers are not aware of their invidious position as they take the ideologies, norms and values which the capitalists promotes, for granted. Marx predicted a revolution of the workers. He believed that the proletariat will become aware of its misery and will unite to overthrow the capitalists and capitalism. Out of this revolution, an egalitarian communist society will develop. For Marx, the egalitarian ideal rest upon the principle “from each according to his ability; to each according to his needs” (Marx & Engels,1972:388, orig. 1848). In an egalitarian communist society, the state is the owner of the means of productions and divide the resources fairly between all citizens. As the means of production are then equally distributed, there would be no