Karl Marxs theory of social change, known as a conflict perspective, is a sociological approach that assumes that social behavior is best understood in terms of conflict or tension between groups. His theory

Weberís theory of social change, idealism, was that men thought and the presence or absence of ideas that bring about social change. Weberís many writings on social stratification refute Marxist thought of society changing the thoughts of the individual. Since thoughts about almost anything in life centered on religion, Weber felt that the social change to capitalism was an extension of the change in religious thought. In this time of change people began to work more for themselves than for the church but the new ideas were still extensions of the religious undertone in capitalism. Weber believed that "the movement to a capitalist society was primarily caused by the habits, attitudes, and beliefs of Protestantism more specifically of Calvinism, most specifically of English Puritanism."

When following the transition of European society from Feudalism to Capitalism, classical examples of the contrast in the theories of Marx and Weber can be found. Weber saw that the ideas, which brought about social change, had come from the church. His disagreement with Marx was that without religious thought social change could not evolve (ex. Capitalism). For Karl Marx, the relationship between religion and social change was clear: religion impeded change by encouraging oppressed people to focus on otherworldly concerns rather than their immediate poverty or exploitation." His idea differed from Weberís in that the Protestant ethic or "spirit of capitalism" (as Weber phrases it) contrasted with the moderate work hours, leisurely work habits and lack of ambition that he saw as typical of the times. Also in contrast, unlike Marx, Weber believed that capitalism could endure indefinitely as an economic system. He added, however, that the decline of religion as an overriding force in society opened the way for workers to express their discontent more vocally. But the times were changing. As the feudal system was premised upon agriculture, tenancy of land determined ones social position in society. The landlord was not only the landowner but also the protector, the judicator, the police chief and the administrator. From the 9th- 11th century the business of government was also largely in the hands of the church. In the 12th century, mercantilism began to emerge and the minor role of money, in the role of self-sufficiency, began to become more important. This change grew increasingly until full Capitalism was reached.

 In conclusion, in regards to their conceptualization of social class, Marx felt that the basis upon which stratification systems rest is on the relationships of men to the means of production. The class divisions that occur between the owners and workers, to Marx, was the most significant characteristic of modern society as he felt that all dimensions of social life were impacted by ones position in it. Marx predicted that this economic arrangement of activities would ultimately come to an end when the workers realized that they were being exploited and banded together in their "collective class interest" to overthrow the capitalists and their government. While Weber agreed with Marx that there was an economic component to the stratification system, he disagreed with Marxís sole emphasis on productive activity and maintained that status and power were also instrumental in the arrangement of hierarchical rankings and the subsequent inequalities and barriers to individual achievement in society. In regard to social change, the two theorists disagreed on how it was brought about. Weber believed that what people thought and believed brought about social change; whereas, Marx believed that society changed a personís thoughts and beliefs which, in turn, brought about social change. The conflicting theories are best seen in the well known writings of each theorist: The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism (written by Weber) , and the preface to a Contribution to the Critique of Political Economy (written by Marx). These writings were the essence of the conflicting views of these two theorists. Karl Marx and Max Weberís insightful analyses of the nature of society have provided "abundant riches for many generations of scholars" (Coser, 1971:260) and their theoretical frameworks are still used by many disciplines and contemporary sociologists.