This is an interactive lecture which includes links to internet sources, videos, and polls. This lecture on the conflict perspective contains copyrighted material under the educational fair use exemption to the U.S. copyright law.
While it is fairly easy to observe social order in a society, the need for rules, and the division of labor among members of a society, social conflict also exists. Conflict theory just like structural functionalism, is a sociological theory used by sociologists to explain how society works on the macro-level. Conflict sociologists view society as a constant competition between large groups of people who fight over what a culture deems as valuable and access to these provides them with power over others. The competition over power creates conflict and chaos in a society.
Karl Marx (1818-1883) is the father of conflict theory.
C. Wright Mills (1916-1962) is also considered major conflict sociologist.
Karl Marx (1818-1883) is the father of conflict theory.
C. Wright Mills (1916-1962) is also considered major conflict sociologist.
Karl Marx was primarily a historian, economist, and a social activist during the Industrial Revolution in Europe. He is best known by many as the coauthor of the Communist Manifesto, a pamphlet urging the masses to revolt and form a communist society. During the Industrial Revolution, peasants were driven out of the countryside and into mushrooming cities filled with brand new factories. The majority of people were poor and they were subjugated to the people that owned the factories.
The Industrial Revolution changed life as people knew it and historians, philosophers, sociologists, and artists documented and attempted to understand these immense societal changes throughout Europe, United States and other parts of the world. For the first time in history, people spend the majority of the day away from their families, and work became separated from the family sphere as they left home each day to toil in factories for long hours and very little pay. Children also worked, many as young as four years old. It may surprise you that childhood and adolescence as we know it is a recent cultural phenomenon.
Charles Dickens the author of many fictional books began A Tale of Two Cities as: “it was the best of times and it was the worst of times.” He was referring to the masses of poor peasants who became city dwellers living in overcrowded, unsanitary slum tenements, and a small wealthy class who exploited or took advantage of them. Ebenezer Scrooge in A Christmas Carol, also written by Dickens, was a fictional character of this wealthy class; a greedy and selfish capitalist who exploited his workers.
Karl Marx believed that capitalism was the source of social inequality in this new industrial society due to its interest in profit over the wellbeing of workers. Marx referred to the capitalists as the bourgeoisie class and the wage earners as the proletariat class. While the bourgeoisie class was certainly wealthy, the definition of the bourgeoisie class are the owners of the means of production. The means of production refers to everything needed to produce goods including the land, factory, machinery, labor, etc.
Capitalism according to Marx, results in an unequal distribution of power in obvious and not so obvious ways and this is due to the bourgeoisie and proletariat classes having opposing and competing interests.
Capitalism according to Marx, results in an unequal distribution of power in obvious and not so obvious ways and this is due to the bourgeoisie and proletariat classes having opposing and competing interests.
Capitalism is also referred to as a free enterprise or a free market. This is because on the surface it looks like both parties are free to pursue their own interests. The bourgeoisie are free to hire or fire whomever they please and proletariats are free to quit or work for whomever pays them their desired wage. Consumers are free to pursue their interests by voting for the best and low cost products and services with their dollars.
Adam Smith a philosopher and economist, believed that capitalism was good for society. But Marx pointed out that since the bourgeoisie class owns the means of production this is not at all a free relationship! Contrast the messages in these two videos.
Adam Smith a philosopher and economist, believed that capitalism was good for society. But Marx pointed out that since the bourgeoisie class owns the means of production this is not at all a free relationship! Contrast the messages in these two videos.
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According to Karl Marx, because the proletariat class competes with itself over jobs held by the bourgeoisie class they cannot set or
even negotiate wages. At the beginning of the industrialization revolution,
there were very few laws protecting factory workers and even consumers. A typical workweek
consisted of long hours, with no vacations,
pensions, medical insurance, or overtime pay in dangerous and often
uncomfortable work conditions.
To maximize profit, the bourgeoisie class cut labor costs by investing in labor saving technologies, employed the lowest wage workers, and used the cheapest materials to manufacture products. Does this sound familiar?
It's Your Turn: What tactics do you think workers could engage in to gain some negotiation power in a capitalist economy?
The labor movement and unions were born during the industrialization of society as workers fought for improved work conditions. When all workers stage a walk-out and go on strike, they gain some level of power as the capitalist faces a loss of profit with each day the strikers picket. The early labor strikes were violent as capitalists used all sorts of means to harass and threaten workers.
While a strike may result in increased wages and improved work conditions, Marx argued that the striking workers ultimately return to the same capitalist system of exploitation. How long before the capitalist in an attempt to recoup losses, lays off a part of the workforce, or worse moves operations elsewhere. Does this sound familiar?
To maximize profit, the bourgeoisie class cut labor costs by investing in labor saving technologies, employed the lowest wage workers, and used the cheapest materials to manufacture products. Does this sound familiar?
It's Your Turn: What tactics do you think workers could engage in to gain some negotiation power in a capitalist economy?
The labor movement and unions were born during the industrialization of society as workers fought for improved work conditions. When all workers stage a walk-out and go on strike, they gain some level of power as the capitalist faces a loss of profit with each day the strikers picket. The early labor strikes were violent as capitalists used all sorts of means to harass and threaten workers.
While a strike may result in increased wages and improved work conditions, Marx argued that the striking workers ultimately return to the same capitalist system of exploitation. How long before the capitalist in an attempt to recoup losses, lays off a part of the workforce, or worse moves operations elsewhere. Does this sound familiar?
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In the Communist Manifesto which he co-authored with Frederich Engels, Marx implored workers across the globe to revolt against the bourgeoisie class by overthrowing the entire capitalist economic system and eventually create a communist society. He argued that the proletariat class has a sense of false consciousness and once it gains class consciousness it will overthrow the bourgeoisie class and form a classless society or communism.
Think of examples of false consciousness in our current society.
Marx predicted that the transition from capitalism to communism would occur through stages filled with bloody revolutions and his explanation of social change is referred to as dialectical materialism.
Throughout the 20th century, people in different parts of the world did revolt and overthrew capitalism to create economic systems in which the government had various levels of control. Some countries formed the Communist Party which grew to control not just the economy but all aspects of a society including religion, media, even the family. China, Cuba, Vietnam, North Korea, and the Soviet Union are some of the examples of communism that you might be familiar with. The Cold War, Korean War, and the Vietnam War were conflicts fought over the expansion of communism. As communist leaders gained power and attempted to hold on to power through authoritarian governments, they persecuted, imprisoned and executed millions of people throughout the 20th century.
It's Your Turn: Do you think it is possible for a classless society to exist?
Check This Out: Ten Communist Societies Throughout History
View these two opposing videos.
It's Your Turn: Do you think it is possible for a classless society to exist?
Check This Out: Ten Communist Societies Throughout History
View these two opposing videos.
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Today,
the writings and ideas related to Marx are more commonly referred to as Marxism. This is because the societal
consequences of communism in which the government held absolute power over
people was not at all what Marx had in mind when he envisioned a classless society.
Conflict theory is based on Marxism but modern conflict sociologists have moved beyond
Marxism. Conflict sociologists tend to agree with Marx that capitalism maintains social inequality between
groups of people. However at the heart of conflict theory is that society
works through the continual competition over power among groups of people; the
haves and the have nots.
Watch these videos regarding child labor in the United States and college athletics. How do these messages in the videos remind you of the conflict theory and the ideas of Karl Marx?
Watch these videos regarding child labor in the United States and college athletics. How do these messages in the videos remind you of the conflict theory and the ideas of Karl Marx?
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Check This Out: College Athletes Take Step Forward Forming Labor Union
According to conflict theory, social change is often sudden and rapid as different groups of people gain power and privilege in a society. Power and privilege in contemporary American culture mainly comes from one's occupation, education, and wealth and these make up the modern sociological definition of social class. This is different from Marx's definition of social class: ownership of the means of production. Conflict sociologists study the effects of power on dominant groups (groups that have access to power and privilege) and minority groups (groups that are denied access to power and privilege). The class conflict today is not just between the bourgeoisie class and the proletariat class but includes competition over valuable social resources such as education and wealth between the dominant groups and minority groups.
Examples: Dominant groups in the United States traditionally have included whites, males, heterosexuals, Judeo-Christians, etc.
It's Your Turn: Dominant groups in the United States have traditionally included whites, males, heterosexuals, Judeo-Christians among others. What other dominant groups exist in the United States today? Why?
One way to examine dominant groups and minority groups in the United States is to study the history of voting rights. The following website has a Voting Rights Timeline: http://www.infoplease.com/timelines/voting.html. Here are some examples:
According to conflict theory, social change is often sudden and rapid as different groups of people gain power and privilege in a society. Power and privilege in contemporary American culture mainly comes from one's occupation, education, and wealth and these make up the modern sociological definition of social class. This is different from Marx's definition of social class: ownership of the means of production. Conflict sociologists study the effects of power on dominant groups (groups that have access to power and privilege) and minority groups (groups that are denied access to power and privilege). The class conflict today is not just between the bourgeoisie class and the proletariat class but includes competition over valuable social resources such as education and wealth between the dominant groups and minority groups.
Examples: Dominant groups in the United States traditionally have included whites, males, heterosexuals, Judeo-Christians, etc.
It's Your Turn: Dominant groups in the United States have traditionally included whites, males, heterosexuals, Judeo-Christians among others. What other dominant groups exist in the United States today? Why?
One way to examine dominant groups and minority groups in the United States is to study the history of voting rights. The following website has a Voting Rights Timeline: http://www.infoplease.com/timelines/voting.html. Here are some examples:
It's Your Turn: How do you think the Vietnam War
affected the passage of the 26th Amendment which lowered the voting
age to 18 years?
Conflict sociologists explain social change as a transition of power between the dominant and minority groups. Examples:
Conflict sociologists explain social change as a transition of power between the dominant and minority groups. Examples:
As
you can see, social change is
a continual process as new dominant and minority groups emerge. Many times the
struggle for power and privilege is a violent one and involves social
movements. Examples:
Comparing
Theories: While
functionalists view social order as the basis of a society,
conflict sociologists view class conflict as a fundamental aspect of a
society.
Students analyzing conflict theory often wonder if labor among people can truly be equally shared. What about the slackers? Think about how this question is really a consequence of false consciousness stemming from a culture in which capitalism is the norm. Think about how Americans are taught that financial success is important. Think about how sports teaches Americans that competition is good and reinforces ideas about social inequality – the losers just didn’t work hard enough. These cultural values support capitalism and income inequalities.
People are taught that if they purchase certain products, others will like them. This results in people’s self-identities being connected to their purchases and amassing debt: “I owe, I owe…so off to work I go.” People often toil in jobs they dislike, daydreaming about the weekend and we even have cultural sayings for the various work days: Monday Blues, Hump Day Wednesday, Thank God It’s Friday, Happy Hour, etc. In reality, who really benefits?
This video about the French work week often comes as a shock to most sociology students.
Check This Out: In France, A New Review of the 35-Hour Workweek
Students analyzing conflict theory often wonder if labor among people can truly be equally shared. What about the slackers? Think about how this question is really a consequence of false consciousness stemming from a culture in which capitalism is the norm. Think about how Americans are taught that financial success is important. Think about how sports teaches Americans that competition is good and reinforces ideas about social inequality – the losers just didn’t work hard enough. These cultural values support capitalism and income inequalities.
People are taught that if they purchase certain products, others will like them. This results in people’s self-identities being connected to their purchases and amassing debt: “I owe, I owe…so off to work I go.” People often toil in jobs they dislike, daydreaming about the weekend and we even have cultural sayings for the various work days: Monday Blues, Hump Day Wednesday, Thank God It’s Friday, Happy Hour, etc. In reality, who really benefits?
This video about the French work week often comes as a shock to most sociology students.
Check This Out: In France, A New Review of the 35-Hour Workweek
It's Your Turn: Marx argued that if capitalism and its pursuit of profit at the expense of people was removed from the culture, people would naturally express themselves through labor. So the work would indeed get done – just think about what people do for hobbies…art, woodworking, gardening, cooking, car restoration, fashion design, etc. How many hours can you sit idly before you get the itch to do something? When you actually engage in something you love to do, doesn’t time just fly by? Maybe reading this lecture is a good example...
Quiz Yourself: Complete this self-assessment related to the information in this lecture.
View Videos and Additional Resources: Conflict Theory
Next Unit: Symbolic Interaction
View Videos and Additional Resources: Conflict Theory
Next Unit: Symbolic Interaction