Karl Marx (1818-1883) had a hand in about every area of study, from science to journalism. He was especially influential in the areas of sociology, politics and economics, and is considered one of the founding fathers of of the social sciences.
Marx’s theories on sociology, politics and economics have been grouped under the term “Marxism.” His theories especially focus on conflict between the classes to develop societies. One of his core beliefs was that capitalism is flawed. Instead, he fought for the implementation of a classless, more representative society.
The classes Marx distinguished were the bourgeoisie, the upper middle class, and the proletariat, the lower class. In Marx’s eyes, the bourgeoisie drove the demand, while the proletariat worked to ensure the supply. This led to an unequal representation of people’s wants and needs, as only the interests of the rich were acknowledged.
These ideas opened the doors to sociology, the study of humans’ development, structure and function. Marx’s ideas are still discussed today in sociology and economics. Politically, his ideas influenced many governments, and even spawned a few Marxist countries and Marxist revolutions.