Karl Marx's Concept of class:

Class viewed as a group of individuals having same relations with the means of

production.[
He laid down the dual class theory, whereby he divided each society into two
classes- the haves and have nots, or the owners (of the means of production) and

the workers (who did not own any means of production).

divided into the haves/ capitalists/ bourgeoisie and the have
Capitalist society
nots/ working class/ proletariat.
T h e two classes are incomplete in themselves, hence there develops mutual

interdependence between them.

The capitalist class is largely indulgent in making more and more profit. The
entire surplus earned by the bourgeoisie is misappropriated as their profit. The
proletariat get no share from this surplus.
The capitalist class also uses state and the laws laid down by the latter in their
own favour. Thus, state and laws become a means of exploitation in the hands of

the upper class.

The proletariat class remains oppressed and accepts the status quo. It remains
alienated from its living condition. However, the working class aspires for a better

living conditions.
Because of diverse interest of the two classes, there occurs conflict between the
two classes and leads to antagonism.
T h e economic differences between the two classes keep on increasing, leading to
polarisation between them.
The proletariat class remains dormant till the time it exists as an alienated

category.
Marx also talks about distinction of class into class in itself and class for itself.
Class in itself refers to the group where all the members share same living
conditions and position in the society. However, it lacks any class consciousness,
or a sense of belongingness. The moment the class generates self awareness and
of belongingness, it gets converted into class for itself.
sense
The moment it gets converted from class in itself to class for itself, it generates
the potential to launch class struggle and proletariat dietatorship.
According to Marx, communism is the final fate of all societies. So, the capitalist

societywill ultimately get converted to communist society.

This conversion can be brought through revolutionary means only.
Max Weber's Views on Social Stratification: Division of society occurs in terms of
class, status groups and parties.
According to him, class refers group of people who share same
to a

position in market economics, and by virtue of this position, they receive

similar rewards.
By virtue of this position, they also share similar life chances or
opportunities.
Different classes are- property owning upper class, non owners/ white
collar workers; petty bourgeoisie; and manual working class.
Status groups are those groups which come to be formed on basis of
same degree of honour, because of which they come to have similar status
situation.
Different occupations, ethnic groups and religious groups are accorded
different degree of prestige, hence they form different status groups.
All the members are aware of their common status situation, they share
common life style and have a feeling of belonging to same group.
Status group can cut across class and within a class also. When class gets
divided in terms of the status groups, it reduces class solidarity and class
consciousness.
Parties are groups concerned with influencing policies and decision
making in the interest of their membership.
These parties are mainly concerned with social power.
They vary from mass political parties to interest or pressure groups. Eg
Professional associations, trade unions, automobile unions, students
unions etc.
They may or may not t epresent interest of the class or status groups.