labor between groups for the attainment of common ends. Durkheim’s functionalism stands in contrast to Marx’s materialism. Durkheim emphasized the problematic nature of social order in his writings; “He argued that societies are held together by the shared beliefs and values of their members, especially as these are expressed in religious doctrine and ritual” (Robertson 1987: 15).
Marx viewed the social conflict inherent in class struggle as making revolution inevitable. Marx argued that such a class conflict could only end with the total dismantling of the ruling (i.e., exploiting) class and the formation of a classless and free society. Perhaps Marx’ most significant contribution to sociology is his dialectical materialism. Within this concept Marx argues that virtually no aspect or characteristics is untouched by economics. This includes religion, government, education, race, and gender. As Robertson (1987: 15) notes: “Marx placed special emphasis on the economic base of society. He argued that the character of virtually all other social arrangements is shaped by the way goods are produced and by the relationships that exist between those who work to produce them and those who live off the production of others”.
When it comes to class stratification and race and gender, Marx felt that the economic base influenced our psychological constructs of these aspects of society. Marx placed great importance on the economic base as a means of influencing the character of all other cultural aspects. When it comes to law, government, education, or perceptions and definitions of race and gender, Marx argued that social institutions (government, schools, the workplace, etc) reinforce them. However, because of economic inequality and class stratification, they reinforce the perceptions and definitions of aspects of culture such as race and gender held by those who control the economic power base in society, not thos...