Conflict Theory

Conflict Theory Definition

Conflict theory doesn't apply to all conflicts in general (such as you and your brother arguing over what show to watch).

Often, conflict can happen when opportunities and access to these limited resources is unequal. This can include (but is not limited to) conflicts in social classes, gender, race, work, religion, politics, and culture. According to conflict theory, people are solely self-interested. Hence, conflict is inevitable.

The person who first noted this phenomenon and made it a theory was Karl Marx, a German philosopher from the 1800s who observed class differences based on resources. It is these class differences that led him to develop what is now known as conflict theory.

Macro Theory

Since conflict theory falls heavily into the realm of sociology, we also need to take a closer look at another sociological concept, macro-level theories.

Conflict theory is considered to be a macro theory because it looks closely at the conflict of power and how it creates different groups in society as a whole. If you were taking conflict theory and looking at the individual relationships between varying people or different groups, then it would fall into the category of micro theory.

Fg. 1 Theories that relate to society as a whole are macro theories. pixabay.com.

Structural Conflict Theory

One of Karl Marx's central tenets was the development of two distinct social classes with structural inequality - the bourgeoisie and the proletariat. As you might be able to tell from the fancy name, the bourgeoisie was the ruling class.

Reports vary, but the bourgeoise consisted of anywhere from 5 percent to 15 percent of all the people in society. It is this elite section of society that held all the power and wealth, despite only representing a fraction of the people in society. Sound familiar?

As you might guess, the bourgeoisie exploited the proletariat. The proletariat most often worked for minimum wage and lived in poverty, while the bourgeoisie enjoyed a splendid existence. Since the bourgeoisie had all the resources and power, they oppressed the proletariat.

Marx's Beliefs

Marx believed that these two social classes were constantly in conflict with one another. This conflict exists because resources are limited and one small subset of the population holds the power. The bourgeoisie wanted to not just hold on to their power, but also continually increase their personal power and resources. The bourgeoisie thrived and based their societal status on the oppression of the proletariat, therefore continuing the oppression for their benefit.

Unsurprisingly, the proletariat did not want to remain oppressed. The proletariat would then push back against the reign of the bourgeoisie, leading to class conflict. They pushed back not only against the labor they had to do, but all of the structural components of society (such as laws) that were implemented by those in power to stay in power. Even though the proletariat was in the majority, the bourgeoisie was the part of society that held the power. Oftentimes the proletariat's resistance efforts were futile.

Marx also believed that all of the change in the history of humans is a result of conflict between classes. Society won't change unless there is conflict resulting from the lower classes pushing back against the reign of the upper classes.

Social Conflict Theory

So now that we understand the basis of conflict theory through structural conflict theory, what is social conflict theory?

Social conflict theory stems from Karl Marx's beliefs.

People who subscribe to social conflict theory believe that conflict is the reason for many interactions, rather than agreement. Social conflict can arise from gender, race, work, religion, politics, and culture.

Fg. 2 Social conflict can arise from gender disputes. pixabay.com.

Max Weber

Max Weber, a philosopher and peer of Karl Marx, helped expand this theory. He agreed with Marx that economic disparities were a cause of conflict, but added that social structure and political power also played important roles.

Conflict Theory Perspectives

There are four key facets that help shape the conflict theory perspective.

Competition

Competition is the idea that people are constantly competing with one another for limited resources to provide for themselves (remember, people are selfish). These resources could be things such as materials, homes, money, or power. Having this type of competition results in a constant conflict between different social classes and levels.

Structural Inequality

Structural inequality is the idea that there are imbalances of power that lead to inequalities of resources. Although all members of society are competing for limited resources, structural inequality allows certain members of society to have an easier time accessing and controlling these resources.

Revolution

Revolution is one of the key tenets of Marx's conflict theory. Revolution refers to the continual power struggle between those in power and those wanting power. According to Marx, it is (successful) revolution that causes all change in history since it results in a power shift.

War

Conflict theorists believe that war is the result of a large-scale conflict. It can result in a temporary unification of society, or follow a similar path to revolution and lead to a new social structure in society.

Conflict Theory Examples

Conflict theory can be applied to many different facets of life. One example of conflict theory in modern life is the education system. Those students who come from wealth are able to attend schools, whether they be private or preparatory, that adequately prepare them for college. Since these students have access to unlimited resources, they can excel in high school and therefore get admitted to the best colleges. These high-ranking colleges can then funnel these students to the most lucrative careers.

But what about the students who don't come from excess wealth and can't afford to pay for a private school? Or the students whose caregivers work full-time to provide for the family so the student gets no support at home? Students from those backgrounds are at a disadvantage compared to the other students. They are not exposed to the same high school education, are not prepared the same to apply for colleges, and because of that, oftentimes do not attend elite institutions. Some might have to start work right after high school to provide for their families. Is education equal for everyone of all social classes?

How do you think the SAT falls into this?

If you guessed something similar to education, you're right! People who come from affluent backgrounds (those with resources and money at their disposal), can take SAT prep classes (or even have their own private tutor). These SAT prep classes inform the student of what types of questions and content to expect. They help the student work through practice questions to ensure that the student does better on the SAT than if they hadn't taken the prep class.

But wait, what about those who can't afford it or don't have the time to do it? They, on average, won't score as high as those who paid for a class or tutor to prepare for the SAT. Higher SAT scores mean a better chance of attending a more prestigious college, setting up the student for a better future.