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The social conflict perspective is a macro-level sociological paradigm that views society as characterized by various inequalities and conflicts that cause tensions and drive social change. It contrasts with structural-functional models of society focused on cohesion.
Key Ideas
- Society is divided by social class, race, gender, sexuality and other group identities
- Groups have unequal powers, access to resources, and life chances based on their position of advantage/disadvantage
- Power differentials result in conflicts where groups struggle to maximize benefits and interests
Key Concepts
- False consciousness - Marginalized groups adopting ideology of dominants against self-interest
- Ideological control - Cultural beliefs justifying inequality as inevitable, normal, or fair
- Praxis - Theory and action unified to challenge oppression and inequality
- Dialectic of social change - Tension between challenging and dominant groups provoking social shifts
Theorists
- Karl Marx highlighted class conflicts under capitalism between owners and workers
- C. Wright Mills examined power elite maintaining control in divided societies
- Ralf Dahrendorf theorized conflicts between superordinate and subordinate groups
- Feminist theorists focused on patriarchal domination and gender conflicts
The conflict perspective continues to explain discrimination, calls for social justice, tensions due to globalization, and various major contemporary social movements. However, it downplays parts of societies characterized by stability, consensus, and social integration. Later perspectives have built upon the conflict approach to provide more balanced understandings of complex, modern societies.