Weber and Marx

Paper Summary:

This paper explains that Max Weber disagreed with Karl Marx's historical and materialist analysis of the dialectical nature or cyclical quality of class conflict within every society. The paper further points out that Weber's more subtle understanding of the concept of 'class', which included dimensions beyond purely economic interests, made class revolution more difficult in his analysis. The author points out that Weber did not negate all of Marx's analysis; rather, he added fundamental components to Marx's analysis of class conflict that disturbed Marx's notion that economics was the root of all human turmoil and strife. The paper stresses that Weber's writings underline the unpredictable importance of ideological and cultural power, an aspect of human life largely ignored in Marx or dismissed as a mere, self-serving tool of the economic elite.

From the Paper:

"For example, someone like Bill Gates might rank high in wealth and social power and prestige (through philanthropy) but low in direct, political power (as Gates' corporation has been the subject of anti-trust lawsuits by the government) A public intellectual like Cornell West may not have enough money to really use his money to exert considerable influence upon society, but have intellectual prestige and influence with politicians and media figures. A news anchor like Katie Couric might have more political and social prestige than a wealthy billionaire investor like Warren Buffet."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Bartle, Phillip. "Community Empowerment: Lecture notes--Max Weber." Last Updated 23 Apr 2006. [6 Jul 2006] http://www.scn.org/cmp/modules/soc-webr.htm
• Bartle, Phillip. "Community Empowerment: Lecture notes--Marx and Weber--Inequality." Last Updated 23 Apr 2006. [6 Jul 2006] http://www.scn.org/cmp/modules/soc-mweb.htm

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