• Join over 1.2 million students every month
  • Accelerate your learning by 29%
  • Unlimited access from just £6.99 per month
Page
  1. 1
    1
  2. 2
    2
  3. 3
    3
  4. 4
    4
  5. 5
    5
  6. 6
    6
  7. 7
    7
  8. 8
    8
  9. 9
    9
    • View my saved documents

    Discuss the similarities and differences between conflict of Marxist theories and functionalist theories in sociology.

    Extracts from this document...

    Introduction

    Dee-Anne Dottin Sociology Ms. Gibbs Question: Discuss the similarities and differences between conflict of Marxist theories and functionalist theories in sociology. 25 marks Although sociology is a recently developed field of study, the advancement of the study is progressing rapidly. Sociological theories are ways sociologists explain society and its mega structure. The structural conflict and structural consensus theories are inevitable chapters of sociology. With some similarities, these two theories have different ideologies and ways of explaining the society. Both theories view society as a system of social structures and both agree that these social structures exist within a society. However, the two theories differ greatly in their opinion on the purpose of these structures. Functionalism views the system of social structures as entities that work together for the benefit of all, but Marxism believes the system of social structures are in place but vary in their benefits depending on the wealth and power of the people involved. involved. Functionalism, the structural consensus sociological theory is a key theory that was developed by Emile Durkheim, one of the founding fathers of sociology. This theory sees society as a mega structure of inter-related social institutions such as schools and the legal system that is in constant consensus. ...read more.

    Middle

    The main ideologies of the structural consensus and structural conflict theory stand parallel to each other and can never come to an agreeing point. One of Functionalism?s key concepts is the collective conscience brought up by Emile Durkheim, which is defined as shared norms and valued in a society. Functionalists believe that collective conscious comes from socialization. Individuals learn what are the society?s expectations, values and norms from interacting with others. In contrast, Marxism spoke on the conflict of interest within the society itself. The bourgeoisie wants monopolization and more riches to themselves which will result in the tyrant exploitation of proletariats while the proletariats want more wages and fair working hours. To sum up, Functionalism spoke on how all individuals in society is in consensus with the social order and social rules whereas Marxism touches on the subject of how conflict is within the society. Another key concept in Functionalism and Marxism can be compared which is the theory of social equilibrium by Talcott Parsons and the theory of dialectical materialism by Joseph Dietzgen. In sociology, a system is said to be social equilibrium when there is a dynamic working balance among its interdependent parts. ...read more.

    Conclusion

    Both Marxism and Functionalism theories are macrospective. This means that the two theories look at society as a whole rather than looking at it from the individual point of view. Both Marxism and Functionalism look at the structures within a society such as family and education, and debate how these affect the individual instead of how the individual affects the structures. Similarly, both theories look at the overall structure of society and argue that education prepares pupils for their position in society whether it is an equal or unequal position. Seeing that these two theories are macro theories but the ideologies are a big contrast. Functionalism helps us understand how society is integrated to function as a whole. Marxism wakes us and gets us to understand more on the exploitations we are exposed to. Functionalism and Marxism are sociological perspectives that ask, and state, certain theories about society and the people that live within it. The two theories attempt to explain how society influences people, and similarly how people influence society. However, the two ideologies are distinctly different. They're so different in fact that only two similarities exist between the two theories.Without functionalism and Marxism, sociology would be very inadequate. ...read more.

    The above preview is unformatted text

    This student written piece of work is one of many that can be found in our AS and A Level Sociological Differentiation & Stratification section.

    Found what you're looking for?

    • Start learning 29% faster today
    • 150,000+ documents available
    • Just £6.99 a month

    or


    Not the one? Search for your essay title...
    • Join over 1.2 million students every month
    • Accelerate your learning by 29%
    • Unlimited access from just £6.99 per month

    See related essaysSee related essays

    Related AS and A Level Sociological Differentiation & Stratification essays

    1. Compare and Contrast Functionalist and Marxist views of Society

      Marx called this the means of production. Because of the Bourgeoisie owning everything in society, Marx said that the working class; the Proletariat owned only their labour, which is used by working for the bourgeoisie. Because the Proletariat all work hard for the bourgeoisie, making them lots of money the

    2. Difference and similarities between 2 societies - China and the UK

      These inequalities happens from the actions of labor markets and the unequal distribution of wealth-property.9 A report by the Office for National Statistics includes evidence of the increase of social inequality in Britain over the last few decades. In the 1970s, the incomes of the richest 10 percent were three times higher than the poorest 10 percent.

    1. essay question sociology - education

      So, according to the Functionalists education is based on merit, as everyone in the school is given an equal opportunity to show their ability by appearing for exams, each person is given a chance to show their talent, skill and hardwork,those who succeed are rewarded those who do not know

    2. What are the functionalist, conflict and symbolic interactionist theory of stratification?

      in other organs for the good of the body like what Durkheim would like to put it (Giddens, 2011). But on the other hand, this is not always true, if for instance the driver and the minister had attended the same primary school and the former was much more qualified than the later.

    1. Compare and contrast two sociological theories

      Both perspectives “fall within the positivist approach, in that they focus on 'objective data´ and concerning upon structure and system rather than focusing upon the meaning of individual” (www.courseworkbank.co.uk). They both focus on the needs of the economy and how institutions relate to this.

    2. Briefly explain some of the main features of any two sociological theories and evaluate ...

      the implication being that if Marxists aren?t researching empirical data, then Marxism isn?t conducting science. Blumer believed a strength of SI was its ability to focus and observe empirical phenomena such as individuals and their interactions, and in by doing so, conduct social science.

    1. Critically compare cultural and structural theories of the social patterning of health and illness.

      would have not been institutionalised, with their education; the labour division would place them in a job with very minimal skills increase health issues. The period of Pre industrial society contributed to low expectancy. Housing damp conditions and poor environment effected health and well- being in this period.

    2. Major Theories in Sociology

      Quantitative research uses many methods like data collection, survey , interview etc. Positivism studies different institutions of a society where as interpretivism analysis the role of individual in society. Positivism is macro and inter positivism is micro sociology. Positivism defines sociology as science which is based on data and experiments,

    • Over 160,000 pieces
      of student written work
    • Annotated by
      experienced teachers
    • Ideas and feedback to
      improve your own work