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    Conflict Theory - Understanding Inequality

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    Odumetse
    Conflict theory views society as composed of groups that compete for limited resources, which generates social inequality and conflict as a result. It focuses on how power and resources are unequally distributed, which benefits some groups at the expense of others. Key elements include social structure reinforcing inequality along lines like class, race, and gender, with dominant groups exploiting minority groups who have incompatible interests. Karl Marx emphasized economic factors and social classes, seeing capitalism creating inequality between the bourgeoisie owners and proletariat workers that fuels social change.

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    Conflict Theory - Understanding Inequality

    Uploaded by

    Odumetse
    67 views16 pages
    Conflict theory views society as composed of groups that compete for limited resources, which generates social inequality and conflict as a result. It focuses on how power and resources are unequally distributed, which benefits some groups at the expense of others. Key elements include social structure reinforcing inequality along lines like class, race, and gender, with dominant groups exploiting minority groups who have incompatible interests. Karl Marx emphasized economic factors and social classes, seeing capitalism creating inequality between the bourgeoisie owners and proletariat workers that fuels social change.

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    Conflict theory views society as composed of groups that compete for limited resources, which generates social inequality and conflict as a result. It focuses on how power and resources are unequally distributed, which benefits some groups at the expense of others. Key elements include social structure reinforcing inequality along lines like class, race, and gender, with dominant groups exploiting minority groups who have incompatible interests. Karl Marx emphasized economic factors and social classes, seeing capitalism creating inequality between the bourgeoisie owners and proletariat workers that fuels social change.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as ppt, pdf, or txt
    67 views16 pages

    Conflict Theory - Understanding Inequality

    Uploaded by

    Odumetse
    Conflict theory views society as composed of groups that compete for limited resources, which generates social inequality and conflict as a result. It focuses on how power and resources are unequally distributed, which benefits some groups at the expense of others. Key elements include social structure reinforcing inequality along lines like class, race, and gender, with dominant groups exploiting minority groups who have incompatible interests. Karl Marx emphasized economic factors and social classes, seeing capitalism creating inequality between the bourgeoisie owners and proletariat workers that fuels social change.

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    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as ppt, pdf, or txt
    of 16

    Sociological Theory

    Frameworks for understanding


    society
    Conflict theory

    The basics:
    – A macro-oriented paradigm
    – Views society as an arena of inequality that
    generates conflict and social change
    Conflict theory

    • Key elements:
    – Society is structured in ways to benefit a
    few at the expense of the majority
    – Factors such as race, sex, class, and age are
    linked to social inequality
    Conflict theory – key elements (cont’d)

    – Dominant group vs. Minority group


    relations
    • These groups have incompatible interests
    and major differences
    Conflict theorists
    • Karl Marx
    – The importance of social class in inequality
    and social conflict

    • W.E.B. DuBois
    – Race as the major problem facing the
    United States in the twentieth century
    Conflict theory

    • A theoretical framework that views society


    as a system characterised by social
    inequality
    • In essence conflict theory enables us to
    see how inequality is rooted in the
    organisation of society
    Conflict theory

    • It’s main focus:

    - Social inequality
    - Social conflict
    - Social change
    Conflict theory – key terms

    • Social structure
    • Social inequality
    • Social institutions = sub-systems of
    society
    CONFLICT THEORY – KARL MARX

    • His main focus: - the economy as a social


    institution that dominates all others in
    directing society
    • His main concern: - what he saw in the
    early stages of industrial capitalism in
    Europe
    CONFLICT THEORY – KARL MARX

    • In his work Marx emphasised the impact


    of economic factors in producing social
    change and the nature of that change
    • For Marx capitalism as an economic
    system influences and shapes the modern
    world
    CONFLICT THEORY – KARL MARX

    • Two key concepts:


    - the base – the economic base
    - the superstructure – all other social
    institutions built on and influenced by the
    economic system/the base
    CONFLICT THEORY – KARL
    MARX

    • Third key concept: Historical


    materialism – which means that how
    material goods are produced shapes the
    rest of society
    CONFLICT THEORY – KARL MARX

    • For Marx the cause of social change is the


    pressure experienced in society for
    constant economic transformation and
    change
    CONFLICT THEORY – KARL MARX

    • For Marx society i.e. capitalist society is


    divided into two groups or two social
    classes:
    • - the bourgeoisie – those who own the
    means of production
    • - the proletariate – the workers
    CONFLICT THEORY – KARL MARX

    • Social conflict – is the struggle between


    groups in society over valued resources
    • - or the struggle between social classes
    CONFLICT THEORY

    • For all conflict theorists including Marx the


    most significant type of social conflict is
    between social classes and is caused by
    the way in which society produces
    material goods

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