Conflict theory Totally Explained

Everything about Conflict Theory totally explained

ť For a position in the religion-science debate with a similar name, see: conflict thesis

Conflict theory emphasizes the role of coercion and power, a person's or group's ability to exercise influence and control over others, in producing social order. It states that a society or organization functions so that each individual and its groups struggle to maximize their benefits, which inevitably contributes to social change such as changes in politics and revolutions. The theory is mostly applied to explain conflict between social classes, proletarian versus bourgeoisie; and in ideologies such as capitalism versus socialism. It is the theory that a continual struggle exists between all different aspects of a particular society. The struggle that occurs doesn't always have to involve physical violence. It can pertain to an underlying struggle for each group or individual within a society to maximize its own benefits. The theory was founded by Karl Marx, and later developed by theorists including Max Weber. Variants of conflict theory may depend on radical basic assumptions (society is eternally in conflict, which might explain social change), or moderate ones (custom and conflict are always mixed). The moderate version allows Functionalism as an equally acceptable theory since it would accept that even negative social institutions play a part in society's self-perpetuation.

Essence

The essence of conflict theory is best epitomized by the classic 'pyramid structure' in which an elite dictates terms to the larger masses. All major institutions, laws, and traditions in the society are created to support those who have traditionally been in power, or the groups that are perceived to be superior in the society according to this theory. This can also be expanded to include any society's 'morality' and by extension their definition of deviance. Anything that challenges the control of the elite will likely be considered 'deviant' or 'morally reprehensible.' The theory can be applied on both the macro level (like the US government or Soviet Russia, historically) or the micro level (a church organization or school club). In summary, conflict theory seeks to catalogue the ways in which those in power seek to stay in power. The conflict theory basically states that all problems are caused by different groups and their status and how they compete for the necessities life.

Stratification

Stratification is the expression of the value system in any particular society. "Conflict theories aproach the problem of social inequality from the standpoint of the various individuals and subgroups within a society. Their needs and desires, rather than the needs of society as a whole." (Lenski, 16) Social Inequality is created from the struggle of valued goods, respect, and services that are in short supply. (Lenski, 16) Many organizations come from stratification and members of the elite class tend to connect their own interests with that of the organization they're associated with. (Collins 100) "Organizations survive, grow, or are picked off, not merely because of their internal processes, but as a part of a kind of local 'world system' or organizations around them." (Collins 101)

Conflict theorists

Conflict theory was elaborated in the United Kingdom by Max Gluckman and John Rex, in the United States by Lewis A. Coser and Randall Collins, and in Germany by Ralf Dahrendorf, all of them being influenced by Ludwig Gumplowicz, Vilfredo Pareto, Georg Simmel, and greatly influenced by Karl Marx. The major foundation of the Conflict Theory was made in much attribute to Karl Marx.

Basic conflicts

In conflict theory there are a few basic conflicts. One of the basic conflicts in conflict theory is that of class. There are low and high ranks in class, and that gives a certain group more power over another group which causes conflicts. For the most part, when an individual is part of a high ranked class they usually own a lot of property. That means that if you're of a lower class, then you don't own as much property. This usually causes conflict on who owns the most property and what property one does own. In Marx's original conception, ownership of property was the most essential determinant of the class structure. On the other hand Weber thought that property ownership was only one factor determining class structure. Another basic conflict in conflict theory is that of race and ethnicity. Much like in the class system, groups in this system are ranked by their prestige and power. This means that if a certain race or ethnicity has more education, prestige, and power then it's considered the better race or ethnicity which creates conflict. Other basic conflicts in conflict theory are that of religion, region, gender, etc. All of these groups seek to gain power and use it to reshape society the way they see it best. It seems that this is the determining factor in the ruling class.

Modes of conflict

In conflict theory there are different modes of conflict. One mode of conflict theory is that of warfare and revolution. Warfare and revolutions take place phases due to the rocky “collations among a variety of social classes.” An example of warfare is that going on currently in Burma, where there's military versus population fighting for control over the country’s government. Another mode of conflict in conflict theory is that of strikes. Modern society has created a main social divider between workers and managers. When workers feel they've been treated unfairly, they go on strike to regain their right to power. Another mode of conflict in conflict theory is that of domination. Most social classes don't form their ideologies the same. Different groups will struggle in conflict over what they think is right, what the norms are, and their ideologies. Higher classes have more abstract ideologies, while subordinated classes that are much less to their advantage but still reflect the want in their own lives. The ideas of the ruling class are the ruling ideas, where the ruling material force is the ruling intellectual force.

Assumptions

The following are four primary assumptions of modern conflict theory:

Competition. Competition over scarce resources (money, leisure, sexual partners, and so on) is at the heart of all social relationships. Competition rather than consensus is characteristic of human relationships.
Structural inequality. Inequalities in power and reward are built into all social structures. Individuals and groups that benefit from any particular structure strive to see it maintained.
Revolution. Change occurs as a result of conflict between competing social classes rather than through adaptation. Change is often abrupt and revolutionary rather than evolutionary.
War. Even war is a unifier of the societies involved, as well as possibly ending whole societies. In modern society, a source of conflict is power[politicians are competing to enter into a system;they act in their self interest, not for the welfare of people.

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