Abstract
19th century was a period which witnessed to intensive developments in terms of technology, science, politics and opinions. One of the philosophers who made significant contributions to the opinion world in that period, was Karl Marx with a universal view point about economy and society based on the dialectic materialistic interpretations of history. Marx, who had marks from the Enlightenment period, was affected from various opinions of the relevant period and created his own thinking system. In addition to his many contributions in both social dimensions and economic and financial fields, one of Marx’ important contributions was class theory.
The social stratification issue was analyzed and commented by many sociologists such as Marx, Engels, Weber and Durkheim. Social stratification has considerably various reflections in social life, which has allow edits spreading effects in different fields each passing day. One of these reflections is sport. Sport, which addresses to large masses, is experienced at each section of social life in both amateur and professional dimensions, not only concerns people but also is included in laws of states and used as a political instrument in international dimensions.
In this study; based on Marx’s thinking system, Historical Materialism, Sub-Structure - Upper-Structure Relation, Production Relations, Alienation and Class concept were examined under different titles, within the light of social stratification and social class concepts, their reflections and effects on the sport case were evaluated using the literature screening model.
In conclusion, the stratification concept, described as the hierarchical classification of difference, was determined to be related with factors such as income level, social environment, culture, physical environment, and have effects on sportive activities. As an indispensable social dimension of our age, sport has been influenced from these concepts as well. In accordance with people’s income levels, diversified branches, because of cultural constraints, interferences in sportive performance desires or limitations in certain branches have shown themselves. Also, physical environment, natural conditions of the living place have been influential on sport and sport branch selection.
Key Words; Karl Marx, Class Theory, Sport, Stratification