Class & Power Structure
Karl Marx studied the structure of society in relation to its major
classes. For that, through economic systems, he categorised the society
into classes - proletariat and bourgeoisie. In some theoretical
traditions in sociology, most notably Marxism, class figures at the very
core of the theoretical structure (Wright, 2003).
Social stratification on the basis of ‘class’ system remains one of the
most widely discussed issues. Meanwhile, this rationale has been
immensely used to study or understand the power structures across the
world.
Further, Max Weber was of the opinion that “class is more complex than
Marx initially supposed.” According to him, status and party (power)
are some important factors that add to the social inequality (as quoted
in Wright, 2003).
Contrary to functionalists, conflict theorists who mostly work with
Weber’s three systems of stratification - class, status, and power -
argue that power is the central feature of society. Besides others, Ralf
Dahrendorf sees ‘class’ as related more to power than to money or
occupation. Even though class system based on economic stratification
remains one of the most important frameworks to understand power
structure in major parts of the world, it has some exceptions in few
regions as well (Allen, 2006).