Conflict theory views society as characterized by inequality and power struggles among groups that compete for scarce resources. It was developed as an alternative to functionalism by Marx, Weber, Simmel and later theorists. Marx saw society as divided into two main classes, the bourgeoisie and the proletariat, who struggle over economic resources. Weber and Simmel expanded on this to argue that power can also be gained through social prestige and political influence. Modern conflict theorists like Coser, Dahrendorf, and Mills applied these ideas to analyze power structures and social change in the post-World War II era.

1. Conflict TheoryConflict Theory
By: Erin Lepird, Sicily Canny,By: Erin Lepird, Sicily Canny,
Mago SaldanaMago Saldana

2. Conflict theory vs MarxismConflict theory vs Marxism
 Conflict theory: power is the core of ALLConflict theory: power is the core of ALL
social relationshipssocial relationships
 Marxism: much like conflict theory butMarxism: much like conflict theory but
power is gained through economicspower is gained through economics
Characterized by an economic struggle betweenCharacterized by an economic struggle between
the haves and have-nots.the haves and have-nots.

3. Conflict TheoryConflict Theory
Alternative to functionalismAlternative to functionalism
Macrosociological theoretical perspectiveMacrosociological theoretical perspective
Resentment and hostility are constantResentment and hostility are constant
elements of societyelements of society
Power differences among social classesPower differences among social classes
SpecialSpecial interest groupsinterest groups fight over scarcefight over scarce
resources of societyresources of society
Interest groups fight to gain advantages overInterest groups fight to gain advantages over
othersothers

4. Conflict Theory (Cont’d)Conflict Theory (Cont’d)
 Competition puts society off-balance untilCompetition puts society off-balance until
dominant group gains control and stabilitydominant group gains control and stability
through powerthrough power

5. InfluencesInfluences
 Karl Marx (1818-1883)Karl Marx (1818-1883)
Humanist: wanted all individuals to reach theirHumanist: wanted all individuals to reach their
full human potentialfull human potential
Believed humans make their own historyBelieved humans make their own history
((historical method)historical method)
Controlling material productionControlling material production division ofdivision of
laborlabor formation of economic social classesformation of economic social classes
Class struggleClass struggle
Trying to combine material and ideal factors/Trying to combine material and ideal factors/
structural and cultural factorsstructural and cultural factors

6. Marx (cont’d)Marx (cont’d)
 Society was a two-class system:Society was a two-class system:
1.1. Bourgeoisie (owners of the means ofBourgeoisie (owners of the means of
production)production)
2.2. Proletariat (workers)Proletariat (workers)

7. Marx (cont’d)Marx (cont’d)
 Class differences have a lot to do withClass differences have a lot to do with
possession of personal propertypossession of personal property
 Believed the exploited would becomeBelieved the exploited would become
conscious and uniteconscious and unite communismcommunism 
elimination of class struggleelimination of class struggle
 Main ideas behind communism are statedMain ideas behind communism are stated
inin the communist manifestothe communist manifesto

8. Max Weber (1864-1920)Max Weber (1864-1920)
 Agreed with Marx (economics played aAgreed with Marx (economics played a
central role in power distinction).central role in power distinction).
 Believed in Two other factors:Believed in Two other factors:
1.1. Social prestige (status)Social prestige (status)
 Example: someone could be poor and still hold aExample: someone could be poor and still hold a
lot of power because of social prestigelot of power because of social prestige  MotherMother
TheresaTheresa
1.1. Political influencePolitical influence
 Example: Politician who has great power, butExample: Politician who has great power, but
does not earn a big salarydoes not earn a big salary

9. Max Weber (cont’d)Max Weber (cont’d)
 Weber definedWeber defined powerpower as “the ability to imposeas “the ability to impose
one’s will on another, even when the otherone’s will on another, even when the other
objects” (p. 72 CST)objects” (p. 72 CST)
 Authority:Authority: legitimate power; used with consent oflegitimate power; used with consent of
the ruledthe ruled
 Distribution of power and authority = basis ofDistribution of power and authority = basis of
social conflictsocial conflict
 HOWEVER: if subordinates believe in theHOWEVER: if subordinates believe in the
authority= avoided conflictauthority= avoided conflict
 If authority is not recognized as a legitimate= conflictIf authority is not recognized as a legitimate= conflict

10. Max Weber (cont’d)Max Weber (cont’d)
 People with power want to keep itPeople with power want to keep it
 People w/out power want to seek itPeople w/out power want to seek it
 3 types of authority:3 types of authority:
1.1. Rational-legalRational-legal
2.2. TraditionalTraditional
3.3. charismaticcharismatic

11. Georg Simmel (1858-1918)Georg Simmel (1858-1918)
 Wanted to develop aWanted to develop a mathematics ofmathematics of
societysociety
Collection of statements about humanCollection of statements about human
relationships and social behaviorrelationships and social behavior
 Disagreed with Marx that social classesDisagreed with Marx that social classes
are formed horizontallyare formed horizontally
 There are differences in power andThere are differences in power and
opinions within each group.opinions within each group.

12. Georg Simmel (1858-1918)Georg Simmel (1858-1918)
 Concepts and contributions:Concepts and contributions:
Rejects organic theoryRejects organic theory
Saw society as the sum of individualSaw society as the sum of individual
interactioninteraction
The most important relationship is betweenThe most important relationship is between
leaders and followers, superior andleaders and followers, superior and
subordinatessubordinates
Superiordinate and subordinate have a reciprocalSuperiordinate and subordinate have a reciprocal
relationshiprelationship

13. Georg Simmel (1858-1918)Georg Simmel (1858-1918)
 Believed social action always involvesBelieved social action always involves
harmony and conflict, love and hatredharmony and conflict, love and hatred
(p.74)(p.74)
 SecrecySecrecy: people who hold secrets are in a: people who hold secrets are in a
position of power.position of power.
 Some groups are formed around secretsSome groups are formed around secrets
and are known asand are known as secret societiessecret societies
are usually in conflict with the greater societyare usually in conflict with the greater society
Initiation creates hierarchyInitiation creates hierarchy

14. Modern Conflict TheoryModern Conflict Theory
 Ideas of Marx, Weber, and SimmelIdeas of Marx, Weber, and Simmel
resurfaced in America in the 1950’sresurfaced in America in the 1950’s
through two German Sociologists:through two German Sociologists:
1.1. Lewis CoserLewis Coser
2.2. Ralph DahrendorfRalph Dahrendorf

15. Lewis Coser (1913-2003)Lewis Coser (1913-2003)
 Defined conflict as “a struggle over valuesDefined conflict as “a struggle over values
and claims to scarce status, power andand claims to scarce status, power and
resources in which the aims of theresources in which the aims of the
opponents are to neutralize, injure, oropponents are to neutralize, injure, or
eliminate their rivals.”eliminate their rivals.”
 Conflicts between intergroups andConflicts between intergroups and
intragroups are part of social lifeintragroups are part of social life

16. Lewis Coser (1913-2003)Lewis Coser (1913-2003)
 Conflict is part of relationships and is notConflict is part of relationships and is not
necessarily a sign of instabilitynecessarily a sign of instability
 Conflict serves several functions:Conflict serves several functions:
1.1. Leads to social changeLeads to social change
2.2. Can stimulate innovationCan stimulate innovation
3.3. During times of war threat, can increaseDuring times of war threat, can increase
central powercentral power

17. Lewis Coser (1913-2003)Lewis Coser (1913-2003)
 Explored sixteen propositions of conflictExplored sixteen propositions of conflict
through functionsthrough functions
 Thought that conflict= boundariesThought that conflict= boundaries
between different groupsbetween different groups unityunity
between individual members of thatbetween individual members of that
group and determines boundaries ofgroup and determines boundaries of
powerpower

18. Ralf Dahrendorf (1929- )Ralf Dahrendorf (1929- )
 Social order is maintained by force fromSocial order is maintained by force from
the topthe top
 Tension is constantTension is constant
 Extreme social change can happen at anyExtreme social change can happen at any
timetime
 ““there cannot be conflict unless somethere cannot be conflict unless some
degreee of consensus has already beendegreee of consensus has already been
established” (p. 89)established” (p. 89)
 Once reached, conflict temporarilyOnce reached, conflict temporarily
disappearsdisappears

19. C. Wright Mills (1916-1962)C. Wright Mills (1916-1962)
 Work centered around powerWork centered around power
 Several dimensions of inequality (likeSeveral dimensions of inequality (like
Weber)Weber)
 Power can be independent from economicPower can be independent from economic
classclass
 Version of conflict theory-closer toVersion of conflict theory-closer to
Weber’s than MarxWeber’s than Marx

20. C. Wright Mills (1916-1962)C. Wright Mills (1916-1962)
 Concept of power elite, rather than rulingConcept of power elite, rather than ruling
class=difference between Marx and Millsclass=difference between Marx and Mills
 There is a triangle of power:There is a triangle of power:
1.1. MilitaryMilitary
2.2. IndustryIndustry
3.3. PoliticsPolitics
 White-collar world kept power elite onWhite-collar world kept power elite on
toptop

21. C. Wright Mills (1916-1962)C. Wright Mills (1916-1962)
 There are three types of power:There are three types of power:
1.1. Authority:Authority: power justified by the beliefs ofpower justified by the beliefs of
the voluntarily obedientthe voluntarily obedient
2.2. Manipulation:Manipulation: power wielded unknown topower wielded unknown to
the powerlessthe powerless
3.3. Coercion:Coercion: the “final” form of power, wherethe “final” form of power, where
the powerless are forced to obey thethe powerless are forced to obey the
powerfulpowerful

22. Randall Collins (1941- )Randall Collins (1941- )
 ““power and status are fundamentalpower and status are fundamental
relational dimensions at the micro level ofrelational dimensions at the micro level of
social interaction and perhaps at thesocial interaction and perhaps at the
macro level as well” (p. 96)macro level as well” (p. 96)
 Collins believes there are certain goodsCollins believes there are certain goods
that every group wants to pursuethat every group wants to pursue
Wealth, power, and prestigeWealth, power, and prestige
 ““Concluded that coercion and the ability toConcluded that coercion and the ability to
“force” others to behave a certain way are“force” others to behave a certain way are
the primary basis of conflict” (p.96)the primary basis of conflict” (p.96)

23. Randall Collins (1941- )Randall Collins (1941- )
 Had aHad a stratifiedstratified
approachapproach to conflictto conflict
that had 3 basicthat had 3 basic
principles and 5principles and 5
principles of conflictprinciples of conflict
analysisanalysis
Social
Structure
Individual
actions

24. RelevancyRelevancy
 Maintains that what social order does, isMaintains that what social order does, is
the result of power elites’ coercion ofthe result of power elites’ coercion of
massesmasses
 Those without power seek social changeThose without power seek social change
 Two class system by MarxTwo class system by Marx
 Contemporary conflict theorists don’t limitContemporary conflict theorists don’t limit
power to just economics, but also look atpower to just economics, but also look at
other issuesother issues

25. Relevancy (cont’d)Relevancy (cont’d)
 Three criticisms of conflict theory:Three criticisms of conflict theory:
1.1. Ignores other ways (i.e. non-forcefulIgnores other ways (i.e. non-forceful
ways in which people reach agreementsways in which people reach agreements
2.2. Sides with people who lack powerSides with people who lack power
3.3. Focuses on economic factors as the soleFocuses on economic factors as the sole
issue for all conflict in societyissue for all conflict in society
 This primarily is for Marx’s approachThis primarily is for Marx’s approach

26. Relevancy (cont’d)Relevancy (cont’d)
 Differences in power are in all types ofDifferences in power are in all types of
interactioninteraction
 Power used to be physical, but now, it’sPower used to be physical, but now, it’s
legal and economiclegal and economic