Marx’s theory o social change is central to his all writings from methodological to theoretical orientation. The nation of social has been found in every stages of human society. Marx’s believed that men make their own history. The major theme of Marx’s theory of social change, according to Coser, is: “Human history is the process through which men change themselves even as they pit themselves against nature to dominate it. In the course of their history men increasingly transform nature to make it better serve their own purposes. And, in the process of transforming nature, they transform themselves.”118
The concepts class struggle, superstructure, substructure and mode of production are key to Marx’s theory of social change. Class struggle, Marx’s believed, plays a very crucial role in the dynamics of social change. According to him, human history is the history of class struggle. However, the various groups and categories are involved in the class struggle differ in different stages to human history depending upon the peculiar mode of production of that period. He sees class struggle as the crucial mechanism for changing social system. In fact, in all stages of human history, two groups are found to be significant: a group having a strong interest in maintaining the existing system, and a group having a strong interest in changing it. Social change comes about through the struggle-political, legal, economic, possibly even military-between these two groups.
Marx’s has discussed two basic structure of society, i.e., the infrastructure or sub-structure and the ‘relations of production’ make up what Marx terms the economic base or the substructure or infrastructure of society. His theory is that changes in society stem from the economic base/substructure. The other parts of society, such as religions, familial and political institutions, are in effect shaped by the nature of the economic base. These other parts he calls the superstructure of society. The figure given below demonstrates in diagrammatic from how these concepts are related. Social change can be represented as starting at the bottom of the triangle and working upward to the top of it.
On the basis of above model of society, it can be said that infrastructure of society plays a major role in the process of social change. These changes will automatically brings change in the superstructure. Marx’s theory of social change could be more applicable to the capitalist society and the formation of classless society, I.e., communist society. Marx argued that many factors could bring about social change. In order to bring about a new type of society, the bulk of population, the free labourers, had to become aware of was happening in their society. They had to become an active social group, a social class, based on the common bond, the common plight and common identity. The workers, organise as a class-in and for-itself, Marx called the proletariat. At this stage, the proletariat will overthrow the bourgeoisie and the forces and relation will be replaced by social solidarity in the affaire of human being. As a result, a classless society, i.e., communist society will be formed.
In fact, Marx’s theory of social change is complex in nature and content. Marx’s major concern was to describe and explain the workings of the capitalist system rather than to establish and develop a theory of social change. However, in this thought and writings, theory of social changes has got a key position to describe and explain the dynamics of social change in all types of society.
CONCLUSION
Karl Marx was greatly influenced by the writings of Hegel especially his writings on the Philosophy of History. Karl Marx believed that Hegel had found a general historical law, called the dialectic, but attempted to make it materialistic by explaining the historical process in economics rather than metaphysical terms and applying its classes rather than nations. He thus tried to explain history in terms of the struggle between classes instead of the struggle between nations as Hegel had done.
German philosopher Karl Marx was a great social thinker of the twentieth century. His contribution not only recognised in sociology but also social sciences s whole. Due to his distinct contribution, a special school of thought has been established called Marxism. Marxist ideas have found place in almost all disciplines of social sciences. Marx’s writings mainly discussed in two parts–
(1) Youthful Marx; and
(2) Mature Marx.
Youthful Marx is mainly for his humanistic thought while mature Marx is for scientific in thought. Marx touched upon all the fields or aspects of society. He sees societal evolution through dialectical approach. His theoretical orientation is also considered as evolutionary in approach.
However, Marx’s great achievement lies in the application of synthetic approach. Marx described wide-ranging body of work in the analysis of sociological thought. Marxist ideas provide a wide range of methodological, conceptual and theoretical orientation in the field of sociology. In addition, he also gives a direction to revolution, and the communist manifesto is the handbook of revolutionaries around the world. At this point, Marx establishes a theory of class-struggle and the concept of alienation.
The notion of alienation and surplus value make a ground, according to Marx, for class-struggle in which finally a socialist types of society would be established. “History of al hitherto existing societies is the history of class struggle” is the central thrust of class-struggle. Here, Marx has applied his methodological tool, i.e., dialectical materialism in different historical stages of society from primitive to capitalist mode of production. This theoretical approach what he calls historical materialism. Due to the theory of class-struggle, Marx is considered to be the father of conflict approach. At the same time, he has also analysed social stratification, family and religion from the viewpoint of conflict approach. Religion, he goes on to say is opium for the society. He, therefore, explained everything from the parameters of two classes-dominant and depressed. In his theoretical understanding, social change is the inevitable part of any society.
In a nutshell, Karl Marx is definitely original in thought and approach because he has presented a new theory of and the new philosophy that can bring about emancipation of downtrodden people. He struggled throughout his life and on the basis of his experience, he presented the philosophical understanding of social reality. However, his economical emphasis is still relevant in present context also. In fact, his thought really seems to be practical in nature of his times and space.