Explain Karl Marx's theory of social stratification. Do you agree with Marx that social stratification can be abolished?

→ Marx's theory on Social stratification :

Marx, in his infrastructure - superstructure concept reflects factors and relations of production as infrastructure. Other social institutions like religion, education, politics, kinship are part of superstructure facilitating burgeoise (owners of means of production).

Marx portrays presence of two classes : burgeoise (the haves) and proletariats (have nots).

With advent of technology, mechanical labor will lose importance leading to pauperisation of masses. Temporary capital (labor of laborer) will convert to permanent capital (asset of capitalist) increasing widely distance between burgeoise and proletariats.

Exploitative capitalism will further lead to monopolisation which will render petty burgeoise out of market. This will further lead to massification of poverty.

Marx, highlights such form of arrangement as a closed system where only chance of mobility is the downward mobility of petty burgeoise. Conflict arises between classes and class-in-itself converts to class-for-itself leading to proletarian revolution in order to achieve an open society.

→ Abolishing of stratification: Marx viewed socialism/communism as institutions with no social stratification. Lifestyle difference would be present but class difference would be absent in communistic societies.

→ Arguments against such abolishment:

i) Davis and Moore reflects on the functionalist perspective of social stratification to ensure important positions are provided to important people to ensure sustenance of social efficiency.

They critique Marxian conflict perspective as, such merit based inequalities don't create class antagonism but provides motivation, ambition and reference group for lower strata to achieve upward mobility.

ii) 'Proliferation of middle class' was developed by Weber arguing that rather than polarisation, mobility is causing middle class to expand. Conflicts are localised and temporary and class position is dynamic.

iii) Neo Marxists highlight the changing nature of social institutions (ex: economy) to explain intermediary classes.