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Conflict Theories
Social conflict theory is a Marxist-based social theory which argues
that individuals and groups (social classes) within society have differing
amounts of material and non-material resources (such as the wealthy vs.
the poor) and that the more powerful groups use their power in order to
exploit groups with less power.
Conflict theory emphasizes the role of coercion and power in producing
social order. This perspective is derived from the works of Karl Marx,
who saw society as fragmented into groups that compete for social and
economic resources. Social order is maintained by domination, with
power in the hands of those with the greatest political, economic, and
social resources. When consensus exists, it is attributable to people being
united around common interests, often in opposition to other groups.
Marx theorized that the work of producing consensus was done in the
"superstructure" of society--which is composed of social institutions,
political structures, and culture--and what it produced consensus for was
the "base," the economic relations of production (Read more about
Marx's theory of base and superstructure here). Following on the heels
Conflict theory
In sociology, conflict theory states that society or an organization
functions so that each individual participant and its groups struggle to
maximize their benefits, which inevitably contributes to social change
such as political changes and revolutions. The theory is mostly applied
to explain conflict between social classes, proletariat versus bourgeoisie;
and in ideologies, such as capitalism versus socialism.
While conflict theory successfully describes instances where conflict
occurs between groups of people, for a variety of reasons, it is
questionable whether this represents the ideal human society. Although
some theorists, such as Karl Marx, have claimed that growth and
development occur through the conflict between opposing parties,
cooperation is also a source of healthy growth. It needs to be determined
under which situations, if any, conflict is necessary to produce change,
as compared to those under which cooperation and harmony lead to the
greatest advances.
Conflict theory
conditions are also what enable one group to propagate their views to
others in society. Because the owners clearly have an advantage in
material wealth, their views are spread more easily.[2]
For Marx, the conflict clearly arises because all things of value to man
result from human labor. According to Marx, capitalists exploit workers
for their labor and do not share the fruits of these labors equally. This
exploitation is what allows the owning classes to dominate politically
and to impose their ideology on the workers of the world.[3]
Weber and conflict theory
Max Weber refined Marx's conflict theory. Weber stated that more than
one conflict over property existed at any given moment in any given
society, which is more nuanced than Marx's theory that the only struggle
of importance was that between owners and workers. Weber included an
emotional aspect of conflict as well:
It is these that underlie the power of religion and make it an important
ally of the state; that transform classes into status groups, and do the
same to territorial communities under particular circumstances
(ethnicity); and that make "legitimacy" a crucial focus for efforts at
domination.
Weber's conclusions on conflict theory are similar to those reached by
thinkers such as Emile Durkheim, Sigmund Freud, and Nietzsche,
namely that beyond emotionality, some particular forms of social
interaction create strongly held beliefs and solidarity among members of
groups.
Feminist conflict theory