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Marxist sociology refers to the application ofMarxist epistemologies within the study ofsociology.[1] It can often beeconomic sociology,political sociology orcultural sociology. Marxism itself is recognised as both apolitical philosophy and asocial theory, insofar as it attempts to remainscientific, systematic, and objective rather than purelynormative andprescriptive. This approach would come to facilitate the developments ofcritical theory andcultural studies as loosely distinct disciplines. Marx himself has been considered a founding father of sociology.
The foundational basis of Marxist sociology is the investigation of capitaliststratification. An important concept of Marxist sociology is "a form ofconflict theory associated with…Marxism's objective of developing apositive (empirical) science ofcapitalistsociety as part of the mobilization of a revolutionaryworking class."[2] TheAmerican Sociological Association (ASA) has a section dedicated to the issues of Marxist sociology that is "interested in examining how insights from Marxistmethodology and Marxist analysis can help explain the complex dynamics of modern society."[3]
Marxist sociology is primarily concerned with, but not limited to, the relations between society and economics.[3] More specifically, key concepts in the sub-field includehistorical materialism,modes of production, and thecapital-labour relation.[2] Marxist sociology is also concerned with the way in which police forces are used to control indigenous populations, enslaved peoples, and the labouring poor in the name ofcapitalism.[4]
Key questions asked by Marxist sociologists include:[1]
Withintheoretical field, Marxist sociology is recognized as one of the majorsociological paradigms and is associated withconflict andcritical theory. UnlikeMarxism andMarxist philosophy, Marxist sociology has put relatively little weight on creatingclass revolution,[1] pursuing instead the development of an objective,politico-economic study of society rather than a critical philosophy ofpraxis.[2] As such, it may be understood as a field ofeconomic sociology.
The study of "socio-nature" emerged from this line of thought.Socio-nature is "a concept that is used to argue that society and nature are inseparable and should not be analyzed in abstraction from each other."[5]
Influenced by the thought ofKarl Marx, Marxist sociology emerged around theturn of the 20th century. The firstMarxist School of sociology was known asAustro-Marxism, of whichCarl Grünberg andAntonio Labriola were among its most notable members.
Much of the development in the field occurred on the outskirts of academia, pitting Marxist against "bourgeois" sociology. For some time, this division was reinforced by theRussian Revolution that then led to the creation of theSoviet Union. Soon, however, sociology found itself a victim of thesuppression of "bourgeois" science within the Soviet Union. While, after several decades, sociology was reestablished in the Communist states, two separate currents of thought evolved within Marxist sociology:
Due to its former state-supported position, there has been a backlash against Marxist thought inpost-Communist states (e.g.sociology in Poland). However, Marxist sociology is still dominant in sociological research that is sanctioned and supported by remaining Communist states (e.g.sociology in China).
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