What did Karl Marx argue was the top social institute?

Karl Marx didn't argue for a specific "top" social institution in the sense of a hierarchy. Instead, he saw the economy as the foundational institution that shapes all other social institutions.

Here's why:

* Materialist Conception of History: Marx believed that history is driven by material conditions, primarily the means of production (e.g., factories, tools, land) and the relationships of production (e.g., class relations between workers and owners).

* Economic Base and Superstructure: He argued that the economic base (the mode of production) determines the superstructure, which includes all other social institutions:

* Political institutions: Governments, laws, and political systems.

* Cultural institutions: Religion, education, art, and media.

* Social institutions: Family, gender roles, and community structures.

* Class Conflict: Marx believed that the economic base, specifically the class relations of production, creates inherent conflict between social classes. This conflict, he argued, drives historical change and shapes all other aspects of society.

Therefore, while Marx didn't specify a "top" social institution, his theory suggests that the economy plays a fundamental role in shaping and influencing all other aspects of society.