Karl Marx is responsible for one of the first explanations of the role that social stratification plays in a society. Using the social conflict approach, Marx attempted to explain: “How in a society so rich, so many could be so poor” (Macionis, 2015). The main component of Marx's view of social stratification is that there are two class systems within a capitalist society, the petty bourgeoisie and the masses of proletarians. The bourgeoisie are those who own and manage businesses and factories for the purpose of profiting. The proletarians are those who work in these businesses and factories to earn an income for living. Both of these class systems have opposing realities and interests that make conflict inevitable. Wanting to obtain greater profits, the bourgeoisie ends up exploiting workers by alienating them from the products of their work. Marx concluded that capitalism will lead to its downfall when proletarians overthrow this type of system for a more socialist lifestyle that will satisfy the needs of workers.