Social Theories- Description

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Social Theory: Conflict
Theorists:  Karl Marx, Max Weber, Friedrich Engels, Ludwig Gumplowicz, George Simmel    Focus:  How social change and development are derived from conflict resulting from inequalities and differences in power in any given society    Main Points: Society is made up of individuals and groups who compete for scarce resources and power. Competition is an inherent characteristic of humans. There are inequalities between social structures and organisations such as religious groups,businesses and government; therefore they each have competing agendas and priorities. Classes exist in society: a wealthy ruling class (bourgeoisie) and a working class (proletariat). The ruling class derives its power from owning and controlling resources.  The ruling class, which is able to maintain and build upon its resources, gains power and is ultimately self-serving in its actions with no intentions of benefiting society or others. It uses power to influence society and to suppress and exploit the working class.The working class supports the ruling class, but because it lacks resources, and therefore power, it is subject to coercion and constraint imposed by the ruling class.The struggle for power and control of resources reaches a breaking point, at which time revolution will occur and the working class will overthrow the ruling class.Sociologist Ian Robertson asserts that change is abrupt and convulsive conflict would keep occurring until the working class revolts and pushes for change against capitalism.Social theorists have broadened the notion of conflict to go beyond class structures so that conflict can now be observed around personal morality, religious beliefs, gender and age.