Marxism, a foundational theory within sociology and a broader social and political philosophy, was developed by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels in the 19th century. Marxism provides a comprehensive framework for analyzing social relations, historical development, and political economy. One of its central components is social conflict theory, which emphasizes the role of class struggle and the exploitation of labor in shaping social structures and dynamics.

Key aspects of Marxist sociology and social conflict theory include:

1. Historical Materialism: Marxist sociology is grounded in the theory of historical materialism, which posits that the development of human societies is driven by the material conditions of production, distribution, and exchange. Marxists argue that the economic base of society—comprising the means of production and the relations of production—determines the social, political, and cultural superstructure.
2. Class Struggle: Central to Marxist sociology is the concept of class struggle, which Marx described as the primary motor of historical change. Marxists analyze society as being divided into antagonistic social classes—such as capitalists and workers—whose interests are fundamentally opposed. Class struggle arises from the conflict between the capitalist class, which owns the means of production, and the working class, which sells its labor power for wages.
3. Exploitation and Surplus Value: Marxists emphasize the exploitation of labor within capitalist societies, whereby capitalists extract surplus value from workers’ labor through the process of production. Workers receive wages that are less than the value of the goods and services they produce, with the surplus value appropriated by capitalists as profit. Exploitation is seen as inherent to capitalist relations of production and central to the reproduction of capitalist society.
4. Capitalism and Alienation: Marxists critique capitalism for its alienating effects on workers, who are estranged from the products of their labor, from the labor process itself, and from their own human potential. Capitalism is characterized by commodity fetishism, in which social relations between people are mediated through the exchange of commodities, obscuring the underlying social relations of production and exploitation.
5. Revolution and Social Transformation: Marxist sociology advocates for revolutionary social change aimed at overthrowing capitalism and establishing a classless society based on collective ownership and democratic control of the means of production. Marxists argue that capitalism contains inherent contradictions that lead to crises and instability, creating conditions for revolutionary struggle and the eventual transition to socialism and communism.
6. Critique of Capitalist Ideology: Marxist sociology offers a critique of capitalist ideology, which serves to legitimize and naturalize capitalist relations of production. Marxists analyze how capitalist ideology—such as individualism, consumerism, and the pursuit of profit—reproduces class inequalities and perpetuates the dominance of the capitalist class. They seek to raise class consciousness and promote solidarity among workers to challenge capitalist hegemony.

Overall, Marxist sociology and social conflict theory provide a comprehensive analysis of capitalist society, highlighting the exploitative and oppressive nature of class relations and advocating for radical social transformation. While Marxism has been subject to various critiques and revisions, its insights continue to inform sociological research, activism, and political movements aimed at challenging inequality and oppression.