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Conflict Theory_ Key Concepts and Principles

conflict theory lesson notes

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29 views

Conflict Theory_ Key Concepts and Principles

conflict theory lesson notes

Uploaded by

Byun Baekhyun
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Conflict Theory: Key Concepts and Principles

Overview

●​ Conflict theory is a sociological perspective that views society as an arena of inequality,


leading to conflict and change.
●​ Rooted in the works of Karl Marx and further developed by theorists like Max Weber and
C. Wright Mills.
●​ Focuses on the competition for scarce resources and the struggle between dominant
and subordinate groups.

Core Assumptions

1.​ Society is Structured by Inequality


○​ Social institutions (e.g., economy, education, politics) reflect and reinforce
inequalities.
○​ Dominant groups maintain power through control over resources, ideologies, and
social norms.
2.​ Conflict Drives Social Change
○​ Social conflict arises from competing interests, often between classes (e.g.,
bourgeoisie vs. proletariat in Marx’s analysis).
○​ Transformative change occurs when oppressed groups challenge the status quo.
3.​ Power Dynamics Shape Society
○​ Power is unequally distributed, allowing elites to dictate societal values and rules.
○​ Social order is maintained through coercion, not consensus.

Key Concepts

●​ Class Struggle: Marx’s idea of ongoing conflict between the bourgeoisie (owners of
production) and the proletariat (working class).
○​ Capitalism fosters exploitation and alienation of workers.
●​ Hegemony: Antonio Gramsci’s concept of cultural dominance by the ruling class,
achieved by promoting ideologies that justify inequality.
●​ Social Stratification: The division of society into hierarchies based on class, race,
gender, and other factors.
○​ Stratification perpetuates systemic inequalities.
●​ False Consciousness: When the oppressed internalize ideologies that justify their
subjugation.
○​ Countered by developing class consciousness or awareness of shared
oppression.

Applications

1.​ Economic Inequality: Explains wage gaps, labor exploitation, and wealth concentration.
○​ Example: The rise of billionaires alongside widespread poverty.
2.​ Social Movements: Highlights the role of activism in challenging injustice.
○​ Example: Civil rights, feminist, and labor movements.
3.​ Institutional Power: Analyzes systemic racism, patriarchy, and other forms of
institutionalized oppression.

Critiques

●​ Overemphasis on conflict and neglect of social cohesion.


●​ Assumes economic factors as the primary driver of inequality, overlooking cultural and
ideological dimensions.
●​ Lacks consideration of individual agency.

Significance

●​ Provides insights into structural inequalities and the dynamics of power.


●​ Encourages critical examination of societal norms and the pursuit of social justice.

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