Who Is Credited With Inventing Conflict Theory?

The fields of knowledge that study the individuals and society can be defined as social science, which has been referred as an umbrella term which consists of the outside of nature science. The origins of ancient philosophy is the beginning of social science history, as it was all considered as the same, there were no differentiation between poetry, history or political studies and mathematics. Adding on, the social science term includes either general or specific sciences of society. To specify, the general science study’s the disciplines that are outside of arts and noble science. On the other hand, thinkers that founded the specific sciences are Marx, Weber, Durkheim and Comte. As there are a lot of theories that studies different disciplines in individual life and society. This research will focus on Karl Marx’s theory, which is the conflict theory. The conflict theory paper will provide a theory description, the history of the theory’s inventor, the modern conflict theory that was introduced by Mill, the strength and weakness and examples from real world application. Conflict Theory and its Description Conflict theory can be considered as the basis for Marxism and communism that highlight and showcases the inequalities that exist in societies. The unavoidably lead to conflict between groups or classes of people and this conflicts ends with revolution and overthrow of the more privileged group of the two. Conflict theory stresses the role of force and power in

Conflict theory, first developed by Karl Marx, is a theory that society is in a state of perpetual conflict because ofcompetition for limited resources.

Conflict theory holds that social order is maintained by domination and power, rather than by consensus and conformity. According to conflict theory, those with wealth and power try to hold on to it by any means possible, chiefly by suppressing the poor and powerless. A basic premise of conflict theory is that individuals and groups within society will work to try to maximize their own wealth and power.

  • Conflict theory focuses on the competition among groups within society over limited resources.
  • Conflict theory views social and economic institutions as tools of the struggle among groups or classes, used to maintain inequality and the dominance of the ruling class.
  • Marxist conflict theory sees society as divided along lines of economic class between the proletarian working class and the bourgeois ruling class.
  • Later versions of conflict theory look at other dimensions of conflict among capitalist factions and among various social, religious, and other types of groups.

(Video) Karl Marx & Conflict Theory: Crash Course Sociology #6

Understanding Conflict Theory

Conflict theory has sought to explain a wide range of social phenomena, including wars, revolutions, poverty, discrimination, and domestic violence. It ascribes most of the fundamental developments in human history, such as democracy and civil rights, to capitalistic attempts to control the masses (as opposed to a desire for social order). Central tenets of conflict theory are the concepts of social inequality, the division of resources, and the conflicts that exist among different socioeconomic classes.

The central tenets of conflict theory can explain many types of societal conflicts throughout history. Some theorists believe, as Marx did, that societal conflict is the force that ultimately drives change and development in society.

Marx’s version of conflict theory focused on the conflict between two primary classes. Each class consists of a group of people bound by mutual interests and a certain degree of property ownership. Marx theorized about the bourgeoisie, a group that represented members of society who hold the majority of the wealth and means. The proletariat is the other group: It includes those considered working-class or poor.

With the rise of capitalism, Marx theorized that the bourgeoisie, a minority within the population, would use their influence to oppress the proletariat, the majority class. This way of thinking is tied to a common image associated with conflict theory-based models of society; adherents to this philosophy tend to believe in a pyramid arrangement in terms of how goods and services are distributed in society. At the top of the pyramid is a small group of elites that dictate terms and conditions to the larger portion of society because they have an outsized amount of control over resources and power.

Uneven distribution within society was predicted to be maintained through ideological coercion; the bourgeoisie would force acceptance of the current conditions by the proletariat. Conflict theory assumes that the elite will set up systems of laws, traditions, and other societal structures in order to further support their own dominance while preventing others from joining their ranks.

(Video) Conflict theory | Society and Culture | MCAT | Khan Academy

Marx theorized that, as the working class and poor were subjected to worsening conditions, a collective consciousness would raise more awareness about inequality, and this would potentially result in revolt. If, after the revolt, conditions were adjusted to favor the concerns of the proletariat, the conflict circle would eventually repeat but in the opposite direction. The bourgeoisie would eventually become the aggressor and revolter, grasping for the return of the structures that formerly maintained their dominance.

Conflict Theory Assumptions

Current conflict theory has four primary assumptions that are helpful to understand: competition, revolution, structural inequality, and war.

Competition

Conflict theorists believe that competition is a constant and, at times, an overwhelming factor in nearly every human relationship and interaction. Competition exists as a result of the scarcity of resources, including material resources—money, property, commodities, and more. Beyond material resources, individuals and groups within a society compete for intangible resources as well. These can include leisure time, dominance, social status, sexual partners, etc. Conflict theorists assume that competition is the default (rather than cooperation).

Revolution

Given conflict theorists' assumption that conflict occurs between social classes, one outcome of this conflict is a revolutionary event. The idea is that change in a power dynamic between groups does not happen as the result of a gradual adaptation. Rather, it comes about as the symptom of conflict between these groups. In this way, changes to a power dynamic are often abrupt and large in scale, rather than gradual and evolutionary.

Structural inequality

An important assumption of conflict theory is that human relationships and social structures all experience inequalities of power. In this way, some individuals and groups inherently develop more power and reward than others. Following this, those individuals and groups that benefit from a particular structure of society tend to work to maintain those structures as a way of retaining and enhancing their power.

War

Conflict theorists tend to see war as either a unifier or as a "cleanser" of societies. In conflict theory, war is the result of a cumulative and growing conflict between individuals and groups and between entire societies. In the context of war, a society may become unified in some ways, but conflict still remains between multiple societies. On the other hand, war may also result in the wholesale end of a society.

Special Considerations

Marx viewed capitalism as part of a historical progression of economic systems. He believed capitalism was rooted in commodities, or things that are purchased and sold. For example, he believed that labor is a type of commodity. Because laborers have little control or power in the economic system (because they don’t own factories or materials), their worth can be devalued over time. This can create an imbalance between business owners and their workers, which can eventually lead to social conflicts. He believed these problems would eventually be fixed through a social and economic revolution.

(Video) Social Conflict Theory In Action!

Adaptations of Marx's conflict theory

Max Weber, a German sociologist, philosopher, jurist, and political economist, adopted many aspects of Marx's conflict theory and later further refined some of Marx's ideas. Weber believed that conflict over property was not limited to one specific scenario. Rather, he believed that there were multiple layers of conflict existing at any given moment and in every society.

Whereas Marx framed his view of conflict as one between owners and workers, Weber also added an emotional component to his ideas about conflict. Weber said: "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...and that make 'legitimacy' a crucial focus for efforts at domination."

Weber's beliefs about conflict extend beyond Marx's because they suggest that some forms of social interaction, including conflict, generate beliefs and solidarity between individuals and groups within a society. In this way, an individual's reactions to inequality might be different depending on the groups with which they are associated; whether they perceive those in power to be legitimate; and so on.

Conflict theorists of the later 20th and early 21st centuries have continued to extend conflict theory beyond the strict economic classes posited by Marx, although economic relations remain a core feature of the inequalities across groups in the various branches of conflict theory. Conflict theory is highly influential in modern and postmodern theories of sexual and racial inequality, peace and conflict studies, and the many varieties of identity studies that have arisen across Western academia in the past several decades.

Examples of Conflict Theory

Conflict theorists view the relationship between a housing complex owner and a tenant as being based mainly on conflict instead of balance or harmony, even though there may be more harmony than conflict. They believe that they are defined by getting whatever resources they can from each other.

In the above example, some of the limited resources that may contribute to conflicts between tenants and the complex owner include the limited space within the complex, the limited number of units, the money that tenants pay to the complex owner for rent, and so on. Ultimately, conflict theorists see this dynamic as one of conflict over these resources.

The complex owner, however gracious, is fundamentally focused on getting as many apartment units filled as possible so that they can make as much money in rent as possible, especially if bills such as mortgages and utilities must be covered. This may introduce conflict between housing complexes, among tenant applicants looking to move into an apartment, and so forth. On the other side of the conflict, the tenants themselves are looking to get the best apartment possible for the least amount of money in rent.

(Video) CONFLICT THEORY || CONCEPT || ASSUMPTIONS || EXAMPLES || STRENGTHS || CRITICISMS

The financial crisis of 2008 and the subsequent bank bailouts are good examples of real-life conflict theory, according to authors Alan Sears and James Cairns in their book A Good Book, in Theory. They view the financial crisis as the inevitable outcome of the inequalities and instabilities of the global economic system, which enable the largest banks and institutions to avoid government oversight and take huge risks that only reward a select few.

Sears and Cairns note that large banks and big businesses subsequently received bailout funds from the same governments that claimed to have insufficient funds for large-scale social programs such as universal healthcare. This dichotomy supports a fundamental assumption of conflict theory, which is that mainstream political institutions and cultural practices favor dominant groups and individuals.

This example illustrates that conflict can be inherent in all types of relationships, including those that don't appear on the surface to be antagonistic. It also shows that even a straightforward scenario can lead to multiple layers of conflict.

Conflict theory is a sociopolitical theory that originated with Karl Marx. It seeks to explain political and economic events in terms of an ongoing struggle over finite resources. In this struggle, Marx emphasizes the antagonistic relationship between social classes, in particular the relationship between the owners of capital—who Marx calls the “bourgeoisie”—and the working class, which he calls the “proletariat.” Conflict theory had a profound influence on 19th- and 20th-century thought and continues to influence political debates to this day.

One common criticism of conflict theory is that it fails to capture the way in which economic interactions can mutually benefit the different classes involved. For example, conflict theory describes the relationship between employers and employees as one of conflict, in which the employers wish to pay as little as possible for the employees' labor, while the employees wish to maximize their wages. In practice, however, employees and employers often have a harmonious relationship. Moreover, institutions such as pension plans and stock-based compensation can further blur the boundary between workers and corporations by giving workers an additional stake in the success of their employer.

(Video) What Is Conflict Theory? | Assumptions of Conflict Theory - Most Important Terms in Sociology

For example, conflict theory describes the relationship between employers and employees as one of conflict, in which the employers wish to pay as little as possible for the employees' labor, while the employees wish to maximize their wages.

How do you explain the conflict theory? ›

Definition of Conflict Theory

(noun) A theory that emphasizes the role of coercion, conflict, and power in society and that social inequality will inevitably occur because of differing interests and values between groups, particularly the competition for scarce resources.

What is conflict theory in sociology PDF? ›

Conflict theory sees social life as a competition, and focuses on the distribution of resources, power, and inequality. Unlike functionalist theory, conflict theory is better at explaining social change, and weaker at explaining social stability.

What are the 3 basic assumptions of conflict theory? ›

Conflict theory has three assumptions: Humans are self-interested. Societies operate under perpetual scarcity of resources. Conflict is pervasive and unavoidable within social groups and between social groups.

What are some examples of conflict theory in education? ›

Conflict theorists contend that not only do the economics favor the white affluent, but so does school testing—particularly IQ testing, which schools can use to sort students. They argue that the tests, which claim to test intelligence, actually test cultural knowledge and therefore exhibit a cultural bias.

What is an example of conflict theory in criminology? ›

Several examples show how conflict criminologists would describe the relationship between workers and management/owners. One example is the struggle between management and unionized workers. Conflict theorists assert that the owners of factories are using their power to exploit the workers.

Conflict theories assume that all societies have structural power divisions and resource inequalities that lead to groups having conflicting interests (Wells, 1979).. Although people have been spreading conflict from a folk knowledge context for millenia, the philosophy underlying conflict theory — and intentional thinking around how people understand conflict and how they can resolve it in constructive ways — stems from the thinking of Karl Marx, Max Weber, and George Simmel.. Marx’s version of conflict theory focused on the conflict between two primary classes within capitalist society: the ruling capitalist class (or bourgeoisie) who own the means of production, and the working class (or proletariat), whose alienated labor the bourgeoisie exploit to produce profit.. In contrast to functionalist theories of conflict, Marxist theories of conflict see conflict as endemic and momentus (Marx, 2000).. Conflict and hostility have a reciprocal relationship: hostility can add fuel to and intensify conflict behavior, and conflict can intensify hostility.. Small tribal societies tend to adopt communal values, and large societies tend to adopt system values (Bartos and Wehr, 2002), which in themselves can lead to goal incompatibility (conflict) between societies.

Conflict theory, first developed by Karl Marx, is a theory that society is in a state of perpetual conflict because ofcompetition for limited resources.. Conflict theory focuses on the competition among groups within society over limited resources.. Conflict theory views social and economic institutions as tools of the struggle among groups or classes, used to maintain inequality and the dominance of the ruling class.. Conflict Theory Assumptions. Competition exists as a result of the scarcity of resources, including material resources—money, property, commodities, and more.. Beyond material resources, individuals and groups within a society compete for intangible resources as well.. An important assumption of conflict theory is that human relationships and social structures all experience inequalities of power.. In conflict theory, war is the result of a cumulative and growing conflict between individuals and groups and between entire societies.. Ultimately, conflict theorists see this dynamic as one of conflict over these resources.

She also examined competition within the feminist movement as women fought for the right to vote, yet the presumably egalitarian mainstream suffragist movements were headed by white women who excluded Black women from suffrage.. Feminist theory examines gender and gender inequality and also points out the male-centric aspects of conflict theory.. From the early work of women sociologists like Harriet Martineau, feminist sociology has focused on the power relationships and inequalities between women and men.. bourgeoisie: those who owned the means of production (i.e. factory owners in the Industrial Revolution) class consciousness: awareness that one is a proletarian, a worker, and has an understanding of solidarity in a class struggle against the bourgeoisie conflict theory: a theory that examines society as a competition for limited resources double consciousness: a term used to describe an individual whose identity is divided into several facets false consciousness: proletarians are unable to identify and understand their own class position and exploitation feminist: one who believes that females should be equal to males feminist theory: the critical analysis of the way gender affects societal structures, power, and inequality intersectional theory: utilizes multiple identities (such as race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, economic class, etc.). as important to understanding inequality patriarchy: a set of institutional structures (like property rights, access to positions of power and sources of income) that are based on the belief that males (patri means “father”) are and should be dominant power elite: the dominant individuals and groups within the military, business world, governments, and other institutions who are at the top of the power hierarchy proletariat: those who labor in the means of production (workers) and who do not possess or control capital, as the bourgeoisie does

Without conflict, there is no story.. Five of the seven types of conflicts are of the external kind.. Or some might reframe Person vs. God as being person against religion and, therefore, would put it in the external conflict type of Person vs. Society.. Conflict.. Furthermore, a story that contains external conflict can be made more complex, layered, and interesting by including characters who also have inner conflict (see The Hunger Games in the examples above).. The plot will put the protagonist in situations where she has to deal with this inner struggle, and she’ll carry that struggle with her throughout the story.

Conflict management is the approach and strategies geared towards achieving a positive outcome and resolution amongst the parties involved in matters relating to conflicts.. This kind of conflict management requires that the parties involved accept the views of one another.. Irrespective of the impacts of all the strategies discussed above, once there are people from different groups and ideology coming together, conflict is likely to occur.. Conflict involves opposition2.. Conflict is not to be avoided5.. Conflict can be similar so, almost the same conflict management strategy or combinations of approaches can be applied to achieve resolution or minimize the negative impact.

Conflict theory explores the power dynamics that create social and economic inequality in different contexts — Everything from poverty and social conflict, to revolutions and war.. Conflict theory is the idea that society consists of different classes competing over finite power and resources.. In Marx's view of capitalist societies, the minority ruling class (aka the bourgeoisie) owned the means of production, such as raw materials and factories, while the majority lower class (aka the proletariat) provided the labor.. Marx's conflict theory explained that the economic relationship between the bourgeoisie and the proletariat was at the core of all class struggles.. The power of one dominant group over another creates and maintains social order.. Competition, not consensus, creates classes or groups and the overall structure of society.. Social conflict could result in a revolution involving a radical overthrow of an oppressive group.. While Marx's idea of class inequality was rooted in economics , Weber broadened power to mean social status or prestige as well.. The economic base: The means of production and the relationships between the classes — the bourgeoisie and the proletariat — that maintain the production.. The superstructure maintained the economic relationships required for capitalism to function; there had to be an exploited class for capitalists to continue making a profit .. Modern conflict theorists have continued to describe the power dynamics and class conflicts throughout society based on the factors and ideologies that distinguish different groups of people.. A functionalist would argue that an astronaut would rightly be rewarded with prestige and status, whereas a plumber may not be so highly rewarded.

When it comes to conflict, there is no one solution that will work in all situations.. While it might seem somewhat weak, accommodation can be the absolute best choice to resolve a small conflict and move on with more important issues.. Disputes are solved quickly, as there is no space for any disagreement or discussion.. A solution that actually solves the problems of the conflict is found, and the manager who implements this tactic will be seen as skilled.. It can be helpful to understand the style of conflict management that a manager uses.. When there is an argument, I will leave the situation as quickly as possible In conflicts, I discuss the situation with all parties to try and find the best solution I use negotiation often to try and find a middle ground between the conflicted parties I know the best path to take and will argue it until others see that I am correct I prefer to keep the peace, rather than argue to get my way I will keep disagreements to myself, rather than bring them up I find it best to keep communication active when there is a disagreement, so I can find a solution that works for everyone I enjoy disagreements and find satisfaction in winning them Disagreements make me anxious and I will work to minimize them I am happy to meet people halfway It is important to me to recognize and meet the expectations of others I pride myself on seeing all sides of a conflict and understanding all of the issues involved I enjoy arguing my case until the other side concedes that I am correct Conflict does not engage me, I prefer to fix the problem and move on to other work I don’t feel the need to argue my point of view, it is less stressful to agree with others. Even if it seems that one person is right, you need to avoid showing your opinion.. While it’s your job to determine the solution, you still need each party to agree to the solution.. The solution you find to avoid future conflicts will depend heavily on the conflict you just helped resolve.. Smart organizations know this and prepare their management with the proper conflict management skills to handle and resolve workplace conflicts quickly and peacefully.

Conflict theorists do not believe that public schools reduce social inequality through providing equal opportunity.. Students of low socioeconomic status are generally not afforded the same opportunities as students of higher status, no matter how great their academic ability or desire to learn.. Can this idea help us understand how social status and economic class are related?. This hidden curriculum reinforces the positions of those with higher cultural capital and serves to bestow status unequally.. The ways by which students are assigned to tracks differs both between and within schools.. However, there is no research showing an academic benefit to low track students from such interaction.. Did you experience tracking at your school?. IQ tests have been attacked for being biased—for testing cultural knowledge rather than actual intelligence.. These tests, to conflict theorists, are another way in which education does not so much provide opportunities as maintain established configurations of power.. Thinking of your school, what are some ways that a conflict theorist would say that your school perpetuates class differences?. In the United States, there is also a post-education gender disparity between what male and female college graduates earn, despite women now graduating college at higher rates than men (Citation C).. One way to think about the gender pay gap is by looking at the difference in median earnings for men and women.. Grade inflation generally refers to a practice of awarding students higher grades than they have earned.. Finally, many colleges may accept a level of grade inflation because it works.. Ironically, grade inflation is not simply a college issue.

Accordingly, conflicts that have reached a certain point on the nine-step scale of conflict escalation can no longer be resolved without outside help.. Glasl divides the nine stages of conflict escalation into three levels.. On the second level one of the two must be the loser (win-lose) and on the third level there are only losses on both sides until mutual annihilation (lose-lose).. It is no longer about the original thing, but about winning the conflict.. Wherever you can, you want to expose your opponent.. The sight of the opponent alone creates negative feelings, even disgust.. There is no going back, there is a total confrontation between the two parties.. At level 4, the affected parties need outside help to solve their conflict.. Stage 1-3 : Self-help is still possible Stage 2-3 : Help through friends, family or professional moderation Stage 3-5 : Help through external professional process support Stage 4-6 : Help through external socio-therapeutic process support Stage 5-7 : Help through external professional mediation Stage 6-8 : Assistance through voluntary or mandatory arbitration Stage 7-9 : Help only possible through a power intervention from above

Conflict management is a skill that leaders must be able to employ when needed to help foster a productive working environment (Guttman, 2004).. Therefore, it is very important that we discuss and address conflict management as a leadership skill.. This chapter will discuss the definition of conflict and its sources, describe conflict management and resolution, and discuss a guide for leaders to use to help them effectively manage and resolve conflict.. For others, conflict involves a disagreement that arises when two or more people or parties pursue a common goal.. The levels of conflict that we will discuss include interpersonal, intrapersonal, intergroup, and intragroup conflict (Loehr, 2017a; Fisher, 2000; Evans, 2013).. This level of conflict occurs when two different groups or teams within the same organization have a disagreement.. Similar to interpersonal conflict, disagreements between team members typically are a result of different personalities.. Effectively managed conflicts can lead to a resolution that will result in positive outcomes and productivity for the team and/or organization (Loehr, 2017b; Evans, 2013).. Leaders need to be able to manage conflict when it occurs, and their ability to manage them is critical to the success of the individuals and/or teams involved (Guttman, 2004).. This is a powerful and effective conflict-handling mode and can be appropriate and necessary in certain situations.. Behaviors that allow leaders to be effective at conflict management include (Guttman, 2004):. Conflict can also occur at different levels of the human experience, which include: interpersonal, intrapersonal, intergroup, and intragroup conflict levels.. Leaders must be able to recognize that conflict can cause negative issues within their team or organization.

Company policy can often be a roadblock to customer success, and it can put employees in a difficult position when dealing with a frustrated customer.. In these cases, an accommodation approach is the best strategy because it produces a beneficial outcome for all parties involved.. The customer is always right — at least that's what the customer thinks.. The third letter determines how you make decisions: by Thinking (T) or Feeling (F).. The pros of this are you learn to let go of issues that aren't important, put first the needs of others who care about the issue, and let yourself see things from the perspectives of others.. However, you can get frustrated by those who try to come to a rapid solution and avoid logically analyzing what you consider to be negative alternatives.

Let’s discuss what conflict resolution is and some strategies that you can use to achieve it.. Conflict resolution is a communication skill.. The goal of conflict resolution is to bring any conflict situation to a peaceful end.. While both parties may not be completely happy, the conflict’s resolution will feel even-handed and just.. If you’re not sure how to resolve conflict, try using these 11 conflict resolution techniques with your team:. There is no right or wrong answer about how and when to employ a conflict resolution strategy.. This is especially true when it comes to conflict resolution and managing team conflict.. But before you begin any conflict resolution meeting, it’s essential that you remain calm in order to reach a solution that works for both parties.. With time and effort, you can master a variety of conflict resolution skills.. Let’s take a look at two examples where a manager used their conflict resolution skills to solve a problem in the workplace:. You listen to all sides of the conflict.. You use an accommodating conflict resolution style to help them fix the problem.. That’s why it’s important to use effective conflict resolution strategies to nip the problem in the bud.. Now you know some popular conflict resolution strategies, and you’ve seen examples of them in practice.

Yet development aid goes beyond development assistance.. Perhaps because development aid does not deal directly with violence, conflict and conflict resolution have not been topics of major concern to development theorists or workers.. The Millennium Development Goals illustrate how development is an interdisciplinary field, which implements programs in various areas and deals with innumerable variables — such as economic, social, political, gender, cultural, religious and environmental issues.. This disconnect creates something of a "Catch-22" — a vicious cycle in which development leads to conflict, and the lack of conflict resolution practices interferes with further development.. The two tables below show the approaches to development topics from the World Bank and from the Eldis Gateway to Development , which presents a more academic view of development.

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