Compare and contrast two major theories of the persistence of social inequality (Marx, Weber, Pareto, Davis & Moore, Elias). Why do social groups still strive to eliminate inequality and what are their chances of success?

Social inequality is a concept used by sociologists to explain how and why individuals and groups in society are unequal and experience social life differently. In almost all countries in the westernised world there is a stratified social stratification system where social groups are seen to rank above one another. When one thinks of social inequality the concept of class is one which immediately comes to attention, and most theories of social inequality or social stratification refer to class as the main factor. Giddens (2001) claims that class can be defined as a large-scale grouping of people who share common economic resources, which strongly influence the type of lifestyle they are able to lead (p. 282)….(short extract)