COMPARE AND CONTRAST: MARX'S AND WEBER'S THEORIES

Compare and Contrast: Marx's and Weber's Theories

Compare and contrast the main features of Marx's and Weber's theories of bureaucracy

Introduction

In comparing and contrasting theorists and their points of view, Marx and Weber are two classical sociologists who have distinct opinions on a myriad of issues. Their ideas and theories lay the groundwork for twentieth century life and while the concepts they convey differ, in very many ways there are similarities. For example, while Marx vehemently opposes capitalism, Weber sees it as an exceptional system. Weber sees capitalism as motivating whereas Marx views it as something that is quite the opposite. With his ideas on alienation, Marx embraces the notion that capitalism is not only less than ideal, but responsible for the divide among the populous.

Although capitalism is a large part of the discussion that come from Marx and Weber, the truth is that the theorists had a lot of ideas on society other than mere political models. They delved into things such as class conflict and leadership and the significance of history. Each theorist, in his own right, had a great deal to say about how society is ordered and each provides reasons for why the world is as it exists.

The Theories of Karl Marx

To Marx, history had been defined as class conflict. He saw everything having to do with the separation of the bourgeoisie and the proletariat or the haves and the "have nots." He saw the divisiveness as wrong, and something that had been propelled by capitalism and not something that comes about naturally. In other words, it is the rise of capitalism that has created a situation where business owners make money but only pay workers a pittance. It also connects the definition of social classes to the modes of material production (1993). It is rather specific in that it notes particular parts of history which ultimately culminates in a state of communism (1993). According to Marx and Engels, five progressive modes of production have always existed and these may be also thought of as forms of governmental control. These ranged all the way from slavehood to feudalism to capitalism and then would later progress to socialism and communism (McLeish, 1993).

The Theories of Max Weber

Weber expressed that capitalism did not just have to do with the acquisition of wealth, but rather the implementation of a system to create money. Thus, it is not what a person may buy with the money that drives capitalism but the making of the money itself which is key to its spirit. It is the drive one has to achieve. Weber cites an example by stating: "The difference between capitalistic and pre-capitalistic spirits is not to be found at this point. The greed of the Chinese Mandarin, the old Roman aristocrat , or the modern peasant, can stand up to any comparison" (1991,p. 56). Here, Weber makes clear that the spirit of capitalism is not about greed, or accumulating material ...