Conflict Theory Generally Consists of the Following Four Points
Poverty
Analyze poverty and the underclass from the following two perspectives: conflict theory and structural functionalism. Who are Marx, Dahrendorf, Weber, Gans, Davis and Moore, and Wilson?
Structural-functionalism is the theory that society is made up of parts (schools, farms, businesses, hospitals) and each of these parts has a different function, but all working together for a stable society. Cultural anthropologists and some sociologists after World War II had this as their dominant view. It is one of three major sociology traditions. Poverty would not really fit with this theory because it is not a structural institution but rather a by-product of this “stable” society—a part that is not working, unless poverty is supposed to be an integral part of this society. Like some people have to be janitors and some are CEO’s in a business. The studies done argue athat social institutions are integrated functionally and one change will make another change. Perhaps the changes made by schools (segregation), hospitals (turning away the uninsured) are making “changes” which create an underclass by how they choose to
Conflict theory generally consists of the following four points.
1. Conflict Built into Society. Societies actually tend to have conflict. Wealth and power are not equal and different groups have different interests.
2. One group becomes dominant because they have unequal power. The dominant group makes sure that the society does what they want and for their own best interests.
3. Consensus is artificial. When a consensus shows up in a society, it is usually artificial and will not last in the long run. A funtionalist might say that consensus is needed and desired by all concerned, but a conflict sociologist says that it either comes from coercion or repression by the dominant group.
4. Conflict is desirable in a society because it makes changes that are necessary for the equal distribution of wealth and power.
5. Ideology. Marx said that the distribution of wealth usually determines other aspects of society such as the politics and culture. Norms, values and beliefs of the culture “okay” the control of all the wealth and make it acceptable. Marx argued that it was not in the interest of the under group.
As in many sciences, both of these theories might be partly true. Perhaps society has both perspectives. It is possible that a certain institution serves to make society work better while at the same time catering to the elite in the society. All societies go through stable periods and periods of conflict. People behave differently accordingly. Sometimes the disorder in a society is what makes it actually improve, such as the Boston Tea Party, the Magna Carta, Civil Rights movement, and more.
Sociologists
Herbert J. Gans is a sociologist who studied the positive functions of poverty.
Kinglsey Davis and Wilbert Moore came up with the functional theory of social stratification and Davis' wroteHuman Society (1949) and "The Myth of Functional Analysis as a Special Method in Sociology and Anthropology", American Sociological Review (1959).
Ralph Dahrendorf was a German sociologist who tried to incorporate the teachings of Marx and Weber into a theory. It is known as the dialectic theory of conflict. His themes in his work are class and conflict theory, role theory, society and democracy in Germany and he also strove to improve the German educational system. He was influenced by structural functualism. His major works were “Class and class conflict in Industrial Society” (1959)And “Essays in the theory of society.” (1967)
Karl Marx wrote about class conflict and differing interests. He believed that the elite exploited the less fortunate. He saw this as the main force which changes things in a society. A dominant class owns the goods and the money to crush those underneath. Then, he thought, the under class must rise up and rebel to overthrow those in power—ultimate conflict theory.
William Julius Wilson was an American sociologist who wrote about poverty and led the Center for the Study of Urban Inequality until 1996. He then joined Harvard as a professor and wrote several seminal works on the sociology of urban poverty.
Max Weber was a German sociologist, and political scientist. He devised the concept of “ideal types” that could be used to compare societies. He was opposed to Marx’s theory that economics caused societies’ problems and instead believed there were many causes—religion, values, and other things.