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What Is Conflict Theory?

Conflict theory, as associated withKarl Marx

, is a social theory that posits that s

ociety is in a state of

perpetual conflict because of



competition for limited resources.

Conflict theory holds that social order is maintained by domination and power, rather than by

consensus and conformity

. According to conflict theory, those with



wealth and power



try to hold on to it by

any means possible, chiefly by suppressing the poor and powerless

. A basic premise of conflict theory is

that individuals and groups within society will work to try to maximize their own wealth and power. 1

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Conflict theory focuses on competition among groups within society over limited resources.

Marxist conflict theory sees society as divided along lines of economic class between the proletarian

working class and the bourgeois ruling class.

Conflict theory views social and economic institutions as tools in the struggle among groups or

classes, used to maintain inequality and the dominance of the ruling class.

Later versions of conflict theory look at other dimensions of conflict among capitalist factions and

among various social, religious, and other types of groups.

What Is Conflict Theory?

Conflict theory is a sociopolitical theory that is heavily associated with Karl Marx. It seeks to explain political

and economic events in terms of an ongoing struggle over finite resources. In this struggle, Marx emphasizes

the antagonistic relationship between social classes, in particular the relationship between the owners of

capital—whom Marx calls the “bourgeoisie”—and the working class, whom he calls the “proletariat.” Conflict

theory had a profound influence on 19th- and 20th-century thought and continues to influence political

debates to this day.1

bour·geoi·sie

/ˌbo

2orZHwäˈzē/

noun

1. the middle class, typically with reference to its perceivedmaterialisticvalues or conventionalattitudes.

"the rise of the bourgeoisie at the end of the eighteenth century"

o(in Marxist contexts) thecapitalistclass who own most of society's wealth and means of production.

"the conflict of interest between the bourgeoisie and the proletariat"

pro·le·tar·i·at

/ˌprōləˈterēət/

noun

1. workers orworking-classpeople, regardedcollectively(often used with reference to Marxism).

"the growth of the industrial proletariat"

Similar:

the workers

working-class people

wage-earners

the laboring classes

the common people

the ordinary people

the lower classes

Opposite:

aristocracy

nobility

othe lowest class of citizens in ancient Rome.

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What Is Conflict Theory? Conflict theory, as associated with Karl Marx, is a social theory that posits that s ociety is in a state of perpetual conflict because of competition for limited resources. 1 Conflict theory holds that social order is maintained by domination and power, rather than by consensus and conformity. According to conflict theory, those with wealth and power try to hold on to it by any means possible, chiefly by suppressing the poor and powerless. A basic premise of conflict theory is that individuals and groups within society will work to try to maximize their own wealth and power. 1 KEY TAKEAWAYS  Conflict theory focuses on competition among groups within society over limited resources.  Marxist conflict theory sees society as divided along lines of economic class between the proletarian working class and the bourgeois ruling class.  Conflict theory views social and economic institutions as tools in the struggle among groups or classes, used to maintain inequality and the dominance of the ruling class.  Later versions of conflict theory look at other dimensions of conflict among capitalist factions and among various social, religious, and other types of groups. What Is Conflict Theory? Conflict theory is a sociopolitical theory that is heavily associated with Karl Marx. It seeks to explain political and economic events in terms of an ongoing struggle over finite resources. In this struggle, Marx emphasizes the antagonistic relationship between social classes, in particular the relationship between the owners of capital—whom Marx calls the “bourgeoisie”—and the working class, whom he calls the “proletariat.” Conflict theory had a profound influence on 19th- and 20th-century thought and continues to influence political debates to this day. 1

bour·geoi·sie

/ˌbo͝orZHwäˈzē/ noun

the middle class, typically with reference to its perceived materialistic values or conventional attitudes. "the rise of the bourgeoisie at the end of the eighteenth century" o (in Marxist contexts) the capitalist class who own most of society's wealth and means of production. "the conflict of interest between the bourgeoisie and the proletariat"

pro·le·tar·i·at

/ˌprōləˈterēət/ noun

workers or working-class people, regarded collectively (often used with reference to Marxism). "the growth of the industrial proletariat" Similar: the workers working-class people wage-earners the laboring classes the common people the ordinary people the lower classes Opposite: aristocracy nobility o the lowest class of citizens in ancient Rome.

Feudal pyramid of power

Feudalism flourished in Europe between the 9th and 15th centuries.

 Feudalism in England determined the structure of society around relationships derived from the

holding and leasing of land, or fiefs.

 In England, the feudal pyramid was made up of the king at the top with the nobles, knights, and

vassals below him.

 Before a lord could grant land to a tenant he would have to make him a vassal at a formal

ceremony. This ceremony bound the lord and vassal in a contract.

 While modern writers such as Marx point out the negative qualities of feudalism, such as the

exploitation and lack of social mobility for the peasants, the French historian Marc Bloch

contends that peasants were part of the feudal relationship; while the vassals performed military

service in exchange for the fief, the peasants performed physical labour in return for protection,

thereby gaining some benefit despite their limited freedom.

 The 11th century in France saw what has been called by historians a “feudal revolution” or

“mutation” and a “fragmentation of powers” that increased localized power and autonomy.

CASTE SYSTEM

The caste system in India is the paradigmatic ethnographic instance of social classification based on castes. It has its origins in ancient India, and was transformed by various ruling elites in medieval, early-modern, and modern India, especially in the aftermath of the collapse of the Mughal Empire and the establishment of the British Raj.[^1 ][^2 ][^3 ][^4 ]^ It is today the basis of affirmative action programmes in India as enforced through its constitution.[^5 ]^ The caste system consists of two different concepts, varna and jati , which may be regarded as different levels of analysis of this system. The caste system as it exists today is thought to be the result of developments during the collapse of the Mughal era and the rise of the British colonial government in India.[^1 ][^6 ][^7 ]^ The British Raj furthered this development, making rigid caste organisation a central mechanism of administration.[^6 ]^ Between 1860 and 1920, the British incorporated the Indian caste system into their system of governance, granting administrative jobs and senior appointments only to Christians and people belonging to certain castes.[^8 ]^ Social unrest during the 1920s led to a change in this policy.[^9 ]^ Caste was no longer used by the colonial authority to functionally organize civil society. This reflected changes in administrative practices, understandings of expertise, and the rise of new European scholarly institutions.[^10 ]^ After the 1920s, the colonial administration began a policy of positive discrimination by reserving a certain percentage of government jobs for the lower castes. In 1948, negative discrimination on the basis of caste was banned by law and further enshrined in the Indian constitution in 1950;[^11 ]^ however, the system continues to be practiced in parts of India.[^5 ]^ There are 3, castes and 25,000 sub-castes in India, each related to a specific occupation.[^12 ] Caste-based differences have also been practised in other regions and religions in the Indian subcontinent, like Nepalese Buddhism,[^13 ]^ Christianity, Islam, Judaism and Sikhism.[^14 ]^ It has been challenged by many reformist Hindu movements,[^15 ]^ Sikhism, Christianity,[^14 ]^ and present-day Neo Buddhism.[^16 ]^ With Indian influences, the caste system is also practiced in Bali.[^17 ] After achieving independence in 1947, India enacted many affirmative action policies for the upliftment of historically marginalized groups as enforced through its constitution. These policies included reserving a quota of places for these groups in higher education and government employment.

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bour·geoi·sie

pro·le·tar·i·at

Feudal pyramid of power

Feudalism flourished in Europe between the 9th and 15th centuries.

 Feudalism in England determined the structure of society around relationships derived from the

holding and leasing of land, or fiefs.

 In England, the feudal pyramid was made up of the king at the top with the nobles, knights, and

vassals below him.

 Before a lord could grant land to a tenant he would have to make him a vassal at a formal

ceremony. This ceremony bound the lord and vassal in a contract.

 While modern writers such as Marx point out the negative qualities of feudalism, such as the

exploitation and lack of social mobility for the peasants, the French historian Marc Bloch

contends that peasants were part of the feudal relationship; while the vassals performed military

service in exchange for the fief, the peasants performed physical labour in return for protection,

thereby gaining some benefit despite their limited freedom.

 The 11th century in France saw what has been called by historians a “feudal revolution” or

“mutation” and a “fragmentation of powers” that increased localized power and autonomy.

CASTE SYSTEM