The similarities and differences of Marxism and Functionalism
Marxism and Functionalism are two, often opposing sociological theories, which macro analyse society. In this essay I will be explaining the differences and similarities they share.
Both Marxism and Functionalism are structural theories. They theorise that society is created from interlinking concepts and values, such as education, family and the economy. Yet they differ on the interpretation of the importance of such factors. Marxists believe that the infrastructure of society is the economy and it has generated a superstructure that operates in a way to support these inequalities created by the economic system. Such as the family, as part of the superstructure reflects this in its role in to socialise the children to work hard and accept authority. Functionalists on the other hand believe that these factors in our society are core values. They all depend on each other to function as a whole, instead of a principle value that dictates the others. For example education and the family are core values which integrate everyone into the same norms and values.