Karl Heinrich Marx (1818-1883 gg.) is one of the greatest economists, philosophers, political scientists, journalists and public figures of the 19th century. Karl Heinrich Marx is one of the most famous and unique thinkers of the 19th century. Comte proclaimed himself the high priest of the new religion, but in reality he did not become it. Its uniqueness lies in the fact that for a century and a half its ideas have been used in the work of various scientists, as well as various social movements; Marx's ideas were used as state ideologies in some countries, and Marx himself became the object of sacralization (either in the positive or in the negative direction.Some totalitarian regimes have established Marxism as the only ideology that has the right to exist, turning it into a kind of state religion
The originator of the theory of conflict is Karl Marx. His theory is based on the idea of the existence of inequalities in the distribution of resources and power in society.
Biography
Karl Marx was born on May 5, 1818 in the German city of Trier (Rhine province of Prussia) in the family of a lawyer, a descendant of rabbis, who in 1816 accepted Protestantism. Father Karl was a man of liberal views, adherent to the ideas of the French Enlightenment. The formation of the personality of Marx was greatly influenced by his future father-in-law, Ludwig von Westfalen, also a supporter of the ideas of the Enlightenment. After graduating from the Gymnasium in Trier in 1835, Marx first studied at the Faculty of Law of the University of Bonn, then at the Faculty of Law of the University of Berlin, where he studied law, history and philosophy. At this time he becomes a member of the so-called "Doctor's Club", which includes the radical Young Hegelians: the Bruno brothers and Edgar Bauer, M. Stirner, etc. Discussions in this circle had a profound influence on the content and style of Marx's thinking.
In 1841, Marx graduated from the university and then received a diploma of the Doctor of Philosophy of the University of Ien; the theme of his doctoral dissertation: "The Difference between the Natural Philosophy of Democritus and the Natural Philosophy of Epicurus."
Initially, Marx wanted to engage in scientific work, intending to assume the post of associate professor at the University of Bonn, but quickly realized that his intention was unworkable: his views were in clear conflict with the feudal-repressive regime of Prussia of that time. Moreover, his temperament as a political fighter and romanticist, striving to practically transform reality, could not be satisfied with the framework of purely academic studies.
Marx becomes a journalist, more precisely, a political publicist. Over the years, he has worked as an author and editor in various newspapers and magazines in Europe and the US, combining the work of the publicist with scientific and political and practical activities (Marx 33).
In 1843, Marx married a friend of his childhood, Jenny von Westfalen, who all his life with him persistently endured enormous difficulties and hardships. The large family of Marx was constantly poor; his journalistic fees and financial assistance to his friend and comrade-in-arms of Engels could not provide his family with a normal existence. On the slope of the years, in one of his letters, Marx confessed that if he had to start life from the beginning, he would again choose his life path associated with adversity and deprivation, but he would never marry so as not to condemn his family to suffering. He and his wife had to survive the death of three young children. He constantly wandered, changing houses and countries. From a young age, Marx lived in exile and was constantly subjected to expulsion: from Prussia, France, Belgium. In the end, his second homeland was England, where he lived from 1849 until his death on March 14, 1883.
Theory of conflict and deviance
The theorists of the conflict believe that society is built in such a way as to serve the interests of the rich and influential people of society, which, in turn, often infringes upon the needs of other people.
Radical criminology, also related to this direction and popular in the West in the 1960s, views criminality as a class and ethnic inequality. Many theorists of conflict consider the capitalist system in the economy to be the main prerequisite for the formation of deviant behavior, that is why the solution of the current situation is possible due to the complete reorganization of the existing system, as well as the formation of a new system in which the distribution of resources among the haves and indigent members of society will be more just (Marx 143).
Signs of deviant behavior can be found at every level of society, but the definition of the concept of such behavior is often associated with the socio-class position of a person. It is obvious that people from high society who have wealth, power, power and influence play a key role in shaping what is considered deviant behavior and what is not. The influence of these people is capable, with the help of numerous legal methods, to change the moral and legal definition of the concept of deviance.
As a result, the existing systems of society, moral and legal, realize the interests of those in power. Those whose interests are ignored are likely to be recognized as outsiders who exhibit deviant behavior. For example, people from the upper class can hardly be detained for vagrancy - illegal behavior, for which representatives of the lower class are often accused and convicted. As Anatole France (1922) remarked ironically: "The law, in all its majestic equality, forbids the rich, like the poor to sleep under the bridges on rainy nights, to beg in the streets and steal bread."
Sociologists who study deviant behavior from the standpoint of the theory of conflict pay special attention to the manifestation of deviance among the elite. In modern law enforcement experience, the concepts of deviance and delinquency usually mean actions such as theft, violence, homelessness, etc. Representatives of the lower classes are likely to be convicted of manifesting such behavior, however, the elite of society also violates existing laws and norms of morality. Deviance and delinquency of the elite especially attracts conflict theorists, since the crimes committed by these representatives of society are much more costly from the economic point of view, and also they are practically unpunished as a result.
Features of deviant behaviour
Deviant behavior of the elite can take various forms, ranging from unethical or immoral acts to, at best, criminal acts punishable by fines or imprisonment. Exchange manipulation and waste of funds from public funds - the actions are obviously delinquent, but at the same time a politician who lies to his voters may be called immoral, but, most likely, will be protected from legal charges. Although deviant behavior among the elite is usually less noticeable, dramatic and less accompanied by violence than other forms of deviance, it still does considerable harm to the financial and moral well-being of society (Marx 38).
For example, in 1967, the presidential commission in the United States found that the annual loss from crimes among the "white-collar workers" was 27 to 42 times higher than the loss from traditional crimes against property (robbery, burglary, theft and counterfeiting) (Tio, 1978). Even when it is possible to obtain legal conviction of criminals, punishments for the elite are often relatively easy. When the company F. Hutton (USA) - a large financial organization - was convicted of intrigues for forgery of checks, a crime for which ordinary citizens would be convicted, none of the company's management was charged.
It should also be emphasized that representatives of the elite largely control information flows that permeate society. This gives them the opportunity to control negative information about themselves, having a more protected private sphere. Therefore, the deviant behavior of the elite has a high level of latency, reliable information about it is difficult to obtain. More often, only historical sources that describe the crimes of privileged strata in the past are accessible to sociologists.
The conflict theory emphasizes inequality in the distribution of power and wealth in society. The theorists of the conflict of the Marxist school view inequality as the product of a capitalist economy. However, scientists from other schools noted that inequality in the distribution of power and privileges exist in all societies, regardless of the type of economy or political regime.
Conclusion
For the past from the middle - the second half of the XIX century. 100-150 years, the world and society have changed significantly, have passed through many revolutions, counterrevolutions and wars, changes and cataclysms, have become different by the current closing years of the 20th century. This complex and new reality made significant amendments and corrections to the theoretical legacy of K. Marx: many of Karl Marx's fundamental scientific provisions and conclusions retained their right and value, in other public practice, the experience of the class struggle and the communist movement made certain, if not significant changes (for example, in the question of the dictatorship of the proletariat, which was often interpreted as the power of the working people, democracy), the third provisions were not confirmed by subsequent practice, proved to be outdated, bubbled (e.g., the absolute impoverishment proletariat working class under capitalism).
But Marx's scientific developments, Marxism as a theory and teaching, remained the most important component of modern world scientific knowledge - philosophical, economic, sociological, political, historical, including in an altered, creatively developed, enriched, modern form. Marx's works and Marxism are studied in many countries of the world, tens and hundreds of works are constantly published about them both in Western countries (including the USA), and in the socialist states, in developing and other countries of the world.
