Power, Social Order and Inequality: A Comparative Study of Durkheim and Marx and Their Implications for Political Thought

Abstract

Based on the theories of Émile Durkheim and Karl Marx, a sociological comparison of these two theories is presented, specifically looking into the theories of power, social order and inequality of both. The study uses a qualitative interpretive analysis of primary and secondary sources to explore how the two thinkers, who were essential to the development of modern concepts of society, developed competing visions of modern society, one based on moral authority and organic solidarity and the other on class domination and structural conflict. The research framework used is that of 'social integration' versus 'system integration' (David Lockwood, 1992) as an analytical lens to shed light on the complementary blind spots in each tradition. The results indicate that the Durkheimian theory fails to explain social disorder, whereas the Marxist theory fails to explain why revolution didn't happen, indicating that a political theory must take into account both aspects. Finally, the paper considers the long-term effects of these different approaches on the current discourses of political thought, including the concept of social change, the role of the state and the nature of justice.