Marx Alienation And Anomie Analysis

There is prima facie surrounding Marx and Durkheim’s concepts of alienation and anomie regarding their similarities. Marx and Durkheim both look at comparable topics such as the effects of a sense of exclusion and cohesion often both arriving at similar conclusions such as the agreeing that the rise of modernity can have negative effects on society. However, their methods, expertise and interests are completely different as they collective evidence from different areas of society. The two concepts are obviously different, hence why we have two separate terms for them, although, it is undeniable that they are loosely linked by an element of similarity; a feeling of being somewhat distant from society. Anomie is “a utopian concept of the political …show more content…
Marx’s theory of alienation stems from the problem of not having enough freedom and feeling as though society is bigger than you meaning you are unable to change your fate. Durkheim’s view directly contrasts this as his theory of anomie is an explanation of when we are provided with too much freedom and it is our entire responsibility to decide our own fate. Within their discussions of freedom, they both involved the theme of structure and agency and how the effects of social structures can affect how free we really are, despite looking at the same problem they conclude on such opposites. Durkheim believed social structures to be both enabling as well as constraining, calling them the very basis of human power and self-understanding (Durkheim cited in S. Hays p.6). Durkheim explained that social structures are essential for integration and regulation as they provide us with an identity. In a traditional society, Durkheim explains that people’s identity is connected to a clan or a class with few choices involved such as you might be a baker or a Lutheran. At first this lack of self-consciousness was perceived as negative, throughout rebellious times of history they fought for more freedom and to get rid of the social norms. As these norms lose their value and our society becomes less defined as it moves from a mechanical to an organic society, it is filled with a sense of loss and risks as no one is telling you how to live or behave meaning all individual failure is blamed by yourself, this creates such a mammoth issue as it is the nature of capitalism that not everyone will succeed increasing the idea of unfulfillment in people. You must choose everything yourself, what job to have, who to marry, what religion to follow, and this arguably has only worsened as society has progressed. Marx agrees that the shift from a traditional to a modern society is a