Sociology conflict theory - Essay Example

CONFLICT THEORY INTRODUCTION: We have seen many theories of society that will help explain to us why some people act this way or that way. These many theories try to explain why person is sad or mad or glad or a just a plain old dad. BODY Conflict theory was spread like wildfire in Germany by Ralf Dahrendorf. in the United Kingdom by Max Gluckman and John Rex and in the United States by Lewis A. Coser and Randall Collins. Conflict theory(Rahim, 1990) shows us that the society or organization functions so that each individual member of the group and the groups themselves fight a day to day survival of the fittest struggle to maximize their benefits. This will surely contribute to social change such as changes in politics and revolutions. The theory is mostly applied to explain conflict between social classes such as the rich and the poor, proletarian versus bourgeoisie; and in ideologies such as capitalism versus socialism The essence of conflict theory(Paquette, 2002) is best epitomized by the classic 'pyramid structure' in which an elite dictates terms to the larger masses. All major institutions, laws, and traditions in the society are designed to support those who have traditionally been in power, or the groups that are perceived to be superior in the society according to this theory. This can also be expanded to include any society's 'morality' and by extension their definition of deviance. Anything that challenges the control of the elite will likely be considered 'deviant' or 'morally reprehensible.' The theory can be applied on both the macro level (like the US government or Soviet Russia, historically) or the micro level (a church organization or school club). In summary, conflict theory seeks to catalogue the ways in which those in power seek to stay in power How can Conflict Theory be applied to our daily lives Conflict theory as described in the first paragraph above, says that everyday is a struggling into position in order to climb the tree of life. It can be applied to our daily lives when we as individuals try to out do and outshine our fellow competitors, as this is what is happening in the business world, or our sibling brothers and sisters as we try to get the attention of our parents. Conflict theory occurs when the goals of or benchmark one or more persons runs in conflict with the other persons' goals or benchmark. For example, four of us, classmates, are vying for the coveted title as Class valedictorian in high school. Now since only one of us will be the class valedictorian in the same year in the same school, then each of us will do whatever its takes, and in rare instances to win illegally. My goal will run in conflict with the goal of the other three classmate friends of mine. Therefore, I must outdo them by hook or crook. This is the essence of conflict theory. It is epitomized by the pyramid structure theory where the more you climb to the top of the pyramid, the lesser there is to move around. The person at the top , a king, a ruler, an emperor, a class valedictorian, a president, a major, or governor and the like functions, will his or her best to strike at anytime who tries to go near his throne for fear that he or she will be replaced. To the person on top of the pyramid, any person that climbs near him or her is considered an enemy that must be disposed of immediately for being so deviant. How is it practical Conflict theory is practical because man was born with the instinct of the animals, being a part of the animal kingdom himself or herself. Without challenges in life, life would be very boring. It is being practical to impose the conflict theory because the lazy ones will have to strive harder to compete with other persons in order to survive. For example when the high school graduate applies for job, he or she has to compete with two hundred other applications for the same job. We can also choose not to join with the conflict and just let the competitors get the prized throne or crown and then just prefer to be his or her loyal follower for the rest Why is it important to study The importance of the study is that we will know WHY people have to fight with each other for the same position that pays only so much. We can now devise plans to overcome the competitors. It is better To defeat the competitors in business than to give the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow that we will win when we outsmart the competition is worth our efforts. The study of conflict theory will tell us that there are four main assumptions of modern conflict theory. The first is Competition. Competition over scarce resources (money, leisure, sexual partners, and so on) is at the heart of all social relationships. Competition rather than consensus is characteristic of human relationships. This is the major reason we are enrolling business school. The major reason is to study the different management strategies to implement in order to increase our share of the market. The second assumption is called structural inequality. Inequalities in power and reward are built into all social structures. Individuals and groups that benefit from any particular structure strive to see it maintained. We will learn that not all persons are born to be kings or queens. The third assumption in our study is that Revolution may occur in order to get what some of the people want. Change occurs as a result of conflict between social class' competing interests rather than through adaptation. It is often abrupt and revolutionary rather than evolutionary. The fourth assumption in the conflict theory is that even in war has to used in order to get what the person wants in life. This is what Hitler and Japan and Mussolino of Italy did. But war may also cause so much destruction so that when the entire earth is leveled to the ground, the winner will stand alone over the dead bodies of the enemies and say What shall I rule over when there is no one alive to talk to. Bartos (2002) stated that "It might not surprise you to hear that even theoreticians differ in how they view conflict. For many practical purposes, they may understand it as a special set of interrelated elements: parties, issues, dynamics, and contexts. To gain a deeper understanding, however, they may use certain abstract concepts such as cause and effect; direct, indirect, and intervening causes; and payoff matrices. The discussion in this chapter deals with these concepts." The researchers of social conflicts are offering many definitions for a particular conflict situation. Parks and Burgess described it as a struggle for status. Another group of sociologists, Mack and Snyder, stated that it is a struggle for status and scarce resources and social change where one's position is life will improve or remain the same but never to slide own to a lower status in life. CONCLUSION: People often do not understand why the other person is so happy or sad. Other people just want to sell and sell and sell goods and services to no end. This is because some people prefer to go to war against other people to get what they want. Some people even violate the law in their endeavor to get lots of money. For society loves to befriend a man who has lots of money to spend. Man does not want to befriend a beggar on the streets because he has no money. There are four types of assumptions in sociology, specifically the theory of conflict. The first assumption is competition. Man has to win the competition in most cases in order to survive and not die of hunger. The second assumption is that there is structural inequality. This means that we must accept the fact that we have our predestined position in life as a teacher, a governor, a president, an engineer or another position. The third assumption is that some men will espoused revolution to take over the territory or slaves or girls of his dreams. The fourth and last assumption is that man will go to war in order to claim what he feels is rightfully his. This could mean that many lives will be lost in the name of conflict theory. Giles stated (2004) that "The events and aftermath of September 11 ineluctably dissolved the already precarious distinction between domestic sovereign space and more global space where transnational networks, international relations, multilateral institutions, and global corporations operate. Feminists have long argued that private/public distinctions serve to depoliticize the private domestic spaces of "home" compared to more public domains. The attacks have exposed the limits of understanding the United States as a "domestic" space, somehow bounded and separated from the processes and politics of eco- nomic, cultural, and political integration. " The dividing line between the soldiers and civilians as well as the battlefronts and civilian spaces had suddenly stop in meaning as a result of the September 11, bombing of the twin towers in New York and the White house. This is another example of the conflict theory where one group wants to tell the United States that it is not as invincible as it says. REFERENCES: Bartos, O., Wehr, Wehr, P., Using Conflict Theory, Cambridge University Press, England, 2002, P. 12 Rahim, A., Theory and Research in Conflict Management. Praeger Publishers. Place of Publication: New York. Publication Year: 1990 Paquette, L., Strategy and Ethnic Conflict: A Method, Theory, and Case Study, Praeger. Westport, CT, 2002 Giles, W., Hyndman, J., Sites of Violence: Gender and Conflict Zones. Contributors: Wenona Giles - editor, Jennifer Hyndman - editor. Publisher: University of California Press. Place of Publication: Berkeley, CA. Publication Year: 2004 Read More