Читать книгу Sociology - Anthony Giddens - Страница 150

For much of its history, sociology was dominated by the so-called Marx–Weber debate on the character and future of capitalist societies. For both Marx and Weber, the emergence of capitalism was a fateful development which shaped the direction of societies around the world. Marx saw capitalism as more dynamic than any preceding type of economic system. Capitalists compete to sell their goods to consumers, and, in order to survive in a competitive market, firms have to produce their wares as cheaply and efficiently as possible. This leads to constant technological innovation as companies strive to gain an edge over their rivals. Capitalist firms also seek out new markets for goods, cheap raw materials and cheaper sources of labour. For Marx, capitalism is a restlessly expanding system spreading to all parts of the globe.

Max Weber is one of Marx’s most perceptive critics, and his work has been described as involving a lifelong struggle with ‘the ghost of Marx’ – the intellectual legacy Marx left behind. Weber agreed that economic factors played a crucial role in social change, but non-economic factors, such as ideas and ideologies, also played their part. For example, Weber argued (as did Marx) that material interests are the main driving force in history, but for Weber these interests are channelled in particular directions by ideas, which act rather like the ‘switchmen’ who direct powerful trains at railway junctions. Weber’s understanding of modern societies and their direction of travel contrasts sharply with that of Marx.