Question

Who among the following gave the theory of Class Struggle?

• A. Emile Durkheim
• B. Max Weber
• C. Karl Marx
• D. Talcott Parsons

Hint:

Whenever you see terms like "class struggle," "exploitation," "proletariat," "bourgeoisie," "surplus value," or "historical materialism," you can confidently associate them with Karl Marx.
Marx views conflict as the main driver of social progress, whereas Durkheim and Parsons view consensus as the basis of society.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

Step 1: Understanding the Question:
The question requires us to identify the classical social theorist who formulated the theory of "Class Struggle" as the primary engine of historical and social change.

Step 2: Key Approach:
The theoretical framework under study is conflict theory, which views society as an arena of inequality and struggle between different social groups over scarce resources.
This perspective stands in contrast to structural functionalism, which views society as cohesive and harmonious.

Step 3: Detailed Explanation:

• Core Thesis of Karl Marx: Karl Marx, along with Friedrich Engels, famously declared in The Communist Manifesto (1848): "The history of all hitherto existing society is the history of class struggles."

• Historical Materialism: Marx argued that human history progresses through distinct stages (e.g., ancient society, feudalism, capitalism) determined by the mode of production.

• The Two Conflicting Classes: In a capitalist society, the struggle is polarized between the Bourgeoisie (owners of the means of production) and the Proletariat (working class who own only their labor power).

• Exploitation and Revolution: The inherent exploitation of the proletariat leads to class consciousness, alienation, and eventually a revolution that Marx believed would establish a classless, communist society.

• Comparing Other Options: Emile Durkheim focused on social integration, collective conscience, and functional solidarity.

• Weber's Stratification Theory: Max Weber argued that stratification is multidimensional, based on Class, Status (honor), and Party (power), rather than just class conflict.

• Parsons' Functionalism: Talcott Parsons is associated with structural functionalism, emphasizing value consensus and systemic equilibrium.

Step 4: Final Answer:
Hence, Karl Marx is the theorist who gave the theory of Class Struggle, which corresponds to Option (C).