2.2 Conflict Theory

Conflict theory views social problems as power struggles between groups competing for limited resources. It explains how dominant groups maintain control through institutions and norms, while subordinate groups face barriers to upward mobility.

Key tenets include competition over scarce resources, social inequality, and class struggle. The theory applies to issues like poverty, crime, and discrimination, highlighting how power imbalances perpetuate social problems and drive societal change.

Understanding Conflict Theory

Social problems as power struggles

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• Social problems stem from unequal distribution of resources and power including economic assets, political sway, and social standing
• Dominant groups maintain their position by controlling institutions and shaping societal norms (education system, media)
• Subordinate groups face limited access to resources and barriers to upward mobility (job discrimination, educational inequities)
• Conflict arises from competition for scarce resources and attempts to change the status quo (labor strikes, civil rights movements)
• Social problems persist due to resistance from those in power and systemic barriers to change (voter suppression, wealth concentration)

Key tenets of conflict theory

• Competition over scarce resources drives social interactions as groups vie for control of wealth, status, and power (oil, land)
• Social inequality manifests through stratification based on class, race, gender, creating unequal distribution of resources (income disparity, educational access)
• Role of power shapes society through ability to influence others and maintain or challenge existing social structures (lobbying, protest movements)
• Class struggle pits owners of means of production against workers in ongoing tension (union negotiations, outsourcing)
• Historical materialism posits economic factors as primary drivers of social change (Industrial Revolution, globalization)
• False consciousness leads subordinate groups to misunderstand their own interests (voting against labor protections)
• Dialectical process propels social change through conflict and resolution (civil rights movement, women's suffrage)

Applying Conflict Theory to Social Issues

Application to specific issues

• Poverty results from unequal resource distribution perpetuated by limited access to education and opportunities (generational poverty, school funding disparities)
• Crime viewed as resistance to oppressive structures with higher rates in disadvantaged communities due to limited legitimate opportunities (drug trade, organized crime)
• Racial discrimination rooted in historical power imbalances maintained through institutional racism intersecting with class struggles (redlining, workplace discrimination)
• Gender inequality stems from patriarchal structures limiting women's opportunities manifested in wage gaps (glass ceiling, pink-collar jobs)
• Educational disparities arise from unequal funding and resources between schools with curriculum reflecting dominant group values (standardized testing, Eurocentric history)

Evaluation of conflict theory

• Contributions include highlighting power dynamics, explaining persistence of social inequalities, and providing framework for analyzing social change (civil rights analysis, labor movement studies)
• Criticisms involve overly focusing on conflict while neglecting cooperation, oversimplifying complex social interactions, and difficulty explaining social stability (peaceful coexistence, cultural assimilation)
• Limitations in explaining rapid social changes not driven by class conflict and instances of cross-class cooperation (technological revolutions, disaster response)
• Comparisons with other theories: functionalism views society as interconnected parts working together while symbolic interactionism focuses on micro-level interactions
• Modern applications include intersectionality examining multiple overlapping forms of oppression and global conflict theory applying concepts to international relations (identity politics, trade wars)