Page 5 - Lessonnote_ Introducing Western Sociologist

• Marx argued that people’s ideas and beliefs originated
from the economic system of which they were part.

• Marx emphasized more on economic structures and

processes because he believed that they formed the
foundations of every social system throughout human

history.

CLASS STRUGGLE

• Marx classified people into social groups with reference to

the production process rather than religion, language and
nationality.

• Conflicts develop between different classes which result

in struggles.

Formation of class
Capitalist mode of production created the working class . Property

less group created by the destruction of the feudal agricultural

system. With the pressure of law and police forced them to work

in the newly built factories. The production process makes workers

into a class.
• In Capitalism the bourgeoisie – owned all the means of

production and the working class- lost all the means of
production that it owned in the past.

Class consciousness
• It is historical phenomenon born out of collective struggle.

According to Marx, workers first become consciousness of

sharing common grievances against capitalists and

eventually develop an awareness of themselves as

forming a social class opposed to the Bourgeoisie