According to Karl Marx, the superstructure consists of the social, political, and ideological institutions that arise from and support the economic base. This includes the legal system, government, family structures, religion, and education, all of which serve to maintain the existing relations of production.

For Marx, the mode of production constitutes the economic base of society. It encompasses the totality of the forces of production (technology, tools, and human labor) and the relations of production (property ownership and social organization of work). This base is fundamental because it shapes the 'superstructure'—the legal, political, and cultural institutions that define social life. The mode of production is the primary determinant of a society's historical development and class structure.

Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels argued that the state is an instrument of class oppression. Once the proletariat achieves a classless society and the means of production are socialized, the state will lose its functional necessity and eventually wither away, as it is no longer needed to manage class conflict.

Marx identified several historical stages of development based on modes of production, including primitive communism, ancient society, feudalism, and capitalism. While scholars often debate the inclusion of the 'Asiatic mode of production' as a fifth category, the traditional academic consensus in many introductory sociology contexts often cites four primary stages leading to the transition toward socialism.

Marx argued that industrial capitalism alienates workers in four distinct ways: from the product of their labor, from the act of production itself, from their fellow workers due to competition, and from their own 'species-being' or human essence. This alienation occurs because the worker loses control over their work and becomes a mere cog in the industrial machine, stripped of creative agency.

Karl Marx is the primary figure associated with conflict theory. He argued that social life is defined by the struggle between different classes over limited resources, specifically the bourgeoisie and the proletariat. His analysis of capitalism and the inherent tensions within economic systems remains a cornerstone of modern sociological thought, providing a framework for understanding inequality, power dynamics, and social change in contemporary societies.

The first volume of 'Das Kapital' (Capital: A Critique of Political Economy) was published in 1867. This monumental work provides a critical analysis of capitalism, exploring the dynamics of commodity production, labor exploitation, and the accumulation of capital, which remains a foundational text for understanding conflict theory and Marxist sociology.

Karl Marx, a foundational figure in Marxist theory, famously analyzed capitalism through the lens of class struggle. He posited that the bourgeoisie (capital owners) and the proletariat (working class) are inherently opposed due to conflicting economic interests, leading to social stratification.

For Marx, the mode of production refers to the specific combination of the forces of production (tools, technology, human labor) and the relations of production (social structures and property ownership). It forms the economic base of society, which fundamentally shapes the superstructure, including laws, politics, and culture.

Marx argued that the working class (proletariat) initially exists as a 'class in itself,' sharing common conditions but lacking collective awareness. Through factory-based production and shared struggle, they develop 'class consciousness,' transforming into a 'class for itself'—a politically active group organized to challenge the capitalist structure and pursue their own collective interests.