Basic Perspectives of Marxist ideals - Term Paper Example

Marxism also offers a scientific account of change but, in opposition to functionalism, this ideology focuses on the premise that radical change was inevitable in society.  Rather than restricting these changes, the Marxism philosophy seeks to adapt to new societal needs not to confirm new situations to old ideas.  Marxism argues that the potential for change is built into the basic structures of society.  The relationship between social classes is intrinsic to the social relations of production.

  According to this theory, “eventually society reaches a point where its own organization creates a barrier to further economic growth and at that point, crisis precipitates a revolutionary transformation of the society” (Long, 2005).  An example of this is society’s movement from feudalism to capitalism, or from capitalism to socialism.  Marx wrote on class conflicts in particular.  Modern Marxist, or conflict, theorists have widened their description of change to social conflict generally.

  “The Conflict Theory is useful in explaining significant events in history and ongoing changing patterns of race and gender relations, it struggles to adequately explain the dramatic impact of technological development on society or the changes to family organisation” (Preston, 2000).  Society is a dynamic, ever-changing result of individual and mutual interaction.  Continuous change, not stable patterns, characterizes the actual disposition of society.  To a Marxist, change is determined by characteristics defined by the social structure.

  Society occurs as a result of interaction between individuals and small groups of individuals.  Social change from this perspective is free-form; an exchange of ideas produces new perspectives, expectations, and boundaries that individuals use to assure continual interactions in the future.  This viewpoint takes the stance that it is people who exist and act and that all the other structures found in society are nothing but human creations.  For the Marxist, society is always in a process of being created, and this occurs through communication and cooperation (Long, 2005).