Functionalism vs Marxism
Functionalism is like believing society is a well-oiled machine where everyone has their role. Founded by Émile Durkheim in 1893, this consensus theory argues that society is basically good for its members. As long as everyone follows the rules and social institutions (like schools, government, and families) work together, everything runs smoothly.
Marxism tells a completely different story. This conflict theory, created by Karl Marx in 1848, sees society as fundamentally unfair. Marx argued that there's always tension between the bourgeoisie (the wealthy) and the proletariat (the working class).
Marxists believe that capitalism creates inequality - the rich get richer whilst the poor get poorer. They dream of communism, where wealth would be shared equally among everyone.
Key Point: Functionalism sees cooperation; Marxism sees conflict. Both perspectives help explain different aspects of how society works.