Conflict Theory of Sociology
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Transcript of Conflict Theory of Sociology
Conflict TheoryConflict Theory
By: Erin Lepird, Sicily Canny, By: Erin Lepird, Sicily Canny, Mago SaldanaMago Saldana
Conflict theory vs MarxismConflict theory vs Marxism
Conflict theory: power is the core of ALL Conflict theory: power is the core of ALL social relationshipssocial relationships
Marxism: much like conflict theory but Marxism: much like conflict theory but power is gained through economicspower is gained through economics
Characterized by an economic struggle between Characterized by an economic struggle between the haves and have-nots.the haves and have-nots.
Conflict TheoryConflict Theory
Alternative to functionalismAlternative to functionalismMacrosociological theoretical perspectiveMacrosociological theoretical perspectiveResentment and hostility are constant Resentment and hostility are constant
elements of societyelements of societyPower differences among social classes Power differences among social classes Special Special interest groupsinterest groups fight over scarce fight over scarce
resources of societyresources of societyInterest groups fight to gain advantages over Interest groups fight to gain advantages over
othersothers
Conflict Theory (Cont’d)Conflict Theory (Cont’d)
Competition puts society off-balance until Competition puts society off-balance until dominant group gains control and stability dominant group gains control and stability through powerthrough power
InfluencesInfluences
Karl Marx (1818-1883)Karl Marx (1818-1883)Humanist: wanted all individuals to reach their Humanist: wanted all individuals to reach their
full human potential full human potential Believed humans make their own history Believed humans make their own history
((historical method)historical method)Controlling material productionControlling material production division of division of
laborlabor formation of economic social classes formation of economic social classes Class struggleClass struggle
Trying to combine material and ideal factors/ Trying to combine material and ideal factors/ structural and cultural factorsstructural and cultural factors
Marx (cont’d)Marx (cont’d)
Society was a two-class system:Society was a two-class system:
1.1. Bourgeoisie (owners of the means of Bourgeoisie (owners of the means of production)production)
2.2. Proletariat (workers)Proletariat (workers)
Marx (cont’d)Marx (cont’d)
Class differences have a lot to do with Class differences have a lot to do with possession of personal propertypossession of personal property
Believed the exploited would become Believed the exploited would become conscious and uniteconscious and unite communism communism elimination of class struggleelimination of class struggle
Main ideas behind communism are stated Main ideas behind communism are stated in in the communist manifestothe communist manifesto
Max Weber (1864-1920)Max Weber (1864-1920)
Agreed with Marx (economics played a Agreed with Marx (economics played a central role in power distinction).central role in power distinction).
Believed in Two other factors:Believed in Two other factors:1.1. Social prestige (status)Social prestige (status)
Example: someone could be poor and still hold a Example: someone could be poor and still hold a lot of power because of social prestige lot of power because of social prestige Mother Mother TheresaTheresa
2.2. Political influencePolitical influence Example: Politician who has great power, but Example: Politician who has great power, but
does not earn a big salarydoes not earn a big salary
Max Weber (cont’d)Max Weber (cont’d)
Weber defined Weber defined powerpower as “the ability to impose as “the ability to impose one’s will on another, even when the other one’s will on another, even when the other objects” (p. 72 CST)objects” (p. 72 CST)
Authority: Authority: legitimate power; used with consent of legitimate power; used with consent of the ruledthe ruled
Distribution of power and authority = basis of Distribution of power and authority = basis of social conflictsocial conflict
HOWEVER: if subordinates believe in the HOWEVER: if subordinates believe in the authority= avoided conflictauthority= avoided conflict If authority is not recognized as a legitimate= conflictIf authority is not recognized as a legitimate= conflict
Max Weber (cont’d)Max Weber (cont’d)
People with power want to keep itPeople with power want to keep it People w/out power want to seek itPeople w/out power want to seek it 3 types of authority:3 types of authority:
1.1. Rational-legal Rational-legal
2.2. Traditional Traditional
3.3. charismaticcharismatic
Georg Simmel (1858-1918)Georg Simmel (1858-1918)
Wanted to develop a Wanted to develop a mathematics of mathematics of societysocietyCollection of statements about human Collection of statements about human
relationships and social behavior relationships and social behavior Disagreed with Marx that social classes Disagreed with Marx that social classes
are formed horizontallyare formed horizontallyThere are differences in power and There are differences in power and
opinions within each group. opinions within each group.
Georg Simmel (1858-1918)Georg Simmel (1858-1918)
Concepts and contributions: Concepts and contributions: Rejects organic theoryRejects organic theorySaw society as the sum of individual Saw society as the sum of individual
interactioninteractionThe most important relationship is between The most important relationship is between
leaders and followers, superior and leaders and followers, superior and subordinatessubordinatesSuperiordinate and subordinate have a reciprocal Superiordinate and subordinate have a reciprocal
relationshiprelationship
Georg Simmel (1858-1918)Georg Simmel (1858-1918)
Believed social action always involves Believed social action always involves harmony and conflict, love and hatred harmony and conflict, love and hatred (p.74)(p.74)
SecrecySecrecy: people who hold secrets are in a : people who hold secrets are in a position of power.position of power.
Some groups are formed around secrets Some groups are formed around secrets and are known as and are known as secret societiessecret societies are usually in conflict with the greater societyare usually in conflict with the greater society Initiation creates hierarchyInitiation creates hierarchy
Modern Conflict TheoryModern Conflict Theory
Ideas of Marx, Weber, and Simmel Ideas of Marx, Weber, and Simmel resurfaced in America in the 1950’s resurfaced in America in the 1950’s through two German Sociologists:through two German Sociologists:
1.1. Lewis CoserLewis Coser
2.2. Ralph DahrendorfRalph Dahrendorf
Lewis Coser (1913-2003)Lewis Coser (1913-2003)
Defined conflict as “a struggle over values Defined conflict as “a struggle over values and claims to scarce status, power and and claims to scarce status, power and resources in which the aims of the resources in which the aims of the opponents are to neutralize, injure, or opponents are to neutralize, injure, or eliminate their rivals.”eliminate their rivals.”
Conflicts between intergroups and Conflicts between intergroups and intragroups are part of social lifeintragroups are part of social life
Lewis Coser (1913-2003)Lewis Coser (1913-2003)
Conflict is part of relationships and is not Conflict is part of relationships and is not necessarily a sign of instabilitynecessarily a sign of instability
Conflict serves several functions:Conflict serves several functions:
1.1. Leads to social changeLeads to social change
2.2. Can stimulate innovationCan stimulate innovation
3.3. During times of war threat, can increase During times of war threat, can increase central powercentral power
Lewis Coser (1913-2003)Lewis Coser (1913-2003)
Explored sixteen propositions of conflict Explored sixteen propositions of conflict through functionsthrough functions
Thought that conflict= boundaries Thought that conflict= boundaries between different groupsbetween different groups unity unity between individual members of that between individual members of that group and determines boundaries of group and determines boundaries of powerpower
Ralf Dahrendorf (1929- )Ralf Dahrendorf (1929- )
Social order is maintained by force from Social order is maintained by force from the topthe top
Tension is constantTension is constantExtreme social change can happen at any Extreme social change can happen at any
timetime ““there cannot be conflict unless some there cannot be conflict unless some
degreee of consensus has already been degreee of consensus has already been established” (p. 89)established” (p. 89)
Once reached, conflict temporarily Once reached, conflict temporarily disappearsdisappears
C. Wright Mills (1916-1962)C. Wright Mills (1916-1962)
Work centered around powerWork centered around powerSeveral dimensions of inequality (like Several dimensions of inequality (like
Weber)Weber)Power can be independent from economic Power can be independent from economic
classclassVersion of conflict theory-closer to Version of conflict theory-closer to
Weber’s than MarxWeber’s than Marx
C. Wright Mills (1916-1962)C. Wright Mills (1916-1962)
Concept of power elite, rather than ruling Concept of power elite, rather than ruling class=difference between Marx and Millsclass=difference between Marx and Mills
There is a triangle of power:There is a triangle of power:
1.1. MilitaryMilitary
2.2. IndustryIndustry
3.3. PoliticsPolitics White-collar world kept power elite on topWhite-collar world kept power elite on top
C. Wright Mills (1916-1962)C. Wright Mills (1916-1962)
There are three types of power:There are three types of power:
1.1. Authority:Authority: power justified by the beliefs of power justified by the beliefs of the voluntarily obedientthe voluntarily obedient
2.2. Manipulation:Manipulation: power wielded unknown to power wielded unknown to the powerlessthe powerless
3.3. Coercion:Coercion: the “final” form of power, where the “final” form of power, where the powerless are forced to obey the the powerless are forced to obey the powerfulpowerful
Randall Collins (1941- )Randall Collins (1941- )
““power and status are fundamental power and status are fundamental relational dimensions at the micro level of relational dimensions at the micro level of social interaction and perhaps at the social interaction and perhaps at the macro level as well” (p. 96)macro level as well” (p. 96)
Collins believes there are certain goods Collins believes there are certain goods that every group wants to pursuethat every group wants to pursueWealth, power, and prestigeWealth, power, and prestige
““Concluded that coercion and the ability to Concluded that coercion and the ability to “force” others to behave a certain way are “force” others to behave a certain way are the primary basis of conflict” (p.96)the primary basis of conflict” (p.96)
Randall Collins (1941- )Randall Collins (1941- )
Had a Had a stratified stratified approach approach to conflict to conflict that had 3 basic that had 3 basic principles and 5 principles and 5 principles of conflict principles of conflict analysisanalysis
Social Structure
Individualactions
RelevancyRelevancy
Maintains that what social order does, is Maintains that what social order does, is the result of power elites’ coercion of the result of power elites’ coercion of massesmasses
Those without power seek social changeThose without power seek social changeTwo class system by MarxTwo class system by MarxContemporary conflict theorists don’t limit Contemporary conflict theorists don’t limit
power to just economics, but also look at power to just economics, but also look at other issuesother issues
Relevancy (cont’d)Relevancy (cont’d)
Three criticisms of conflict theory:Three criticisms of conflict theory:
1.1. Ignores other ways (i.e. non-forceful Ignores other ways (i.e. non-forceful ways in which people reach agreementsways in which people reach agreements
2.2. Sides with people who lack powerSides with people who lack power
3.3. Focuses on economic factors as the sole Focuses on economic factors as the sole issue for all conflict in societyissue for all conflict in society
This primarily is for Marx’s approach This primarily is for Marx’s approach
Relevancy (cont’d)Relevancy (cont’d)
Differences in power are in all types of Differences in power are in all types of interactioninteraction
Power used to be physical, but now, it’s Power used to be physical, but now, it’s legal and economiclegal and economic