Conflict Theory Introduction

1
Conflict Theory Introduction

• Roots
• Marx and Weber
• Coercion not consensus is what maintains social
  order
• Marx saw a two tier system of Proletariat and
  Bourgeoisie struggling for control of the means
  of economic production
• Weber agreed in the importance of wealth, but
• argued that power and status were of equal
  importance
• Both saw different groups in conflict over social
  scarcities.

2
Modern Conflict Theory

• 60s open social conflict
• Functionalism
• Stability
• Equilibrium
• Consensus
• Dahrendorf
• the two faces of society
• Functional theory (rulers)
• Conflict theory (ruled)
• Society is constantly changing
• Change results from social conflict and dissent.

3
Dahrendorfs Assumptions

• Power is not a zero sum game
• World not strictly divided
• Winners
• Losers
• Power dominates and controls the powerless.
• The powerful establish a social structure to
  maintain control
• Authority positions are widely distributed
• People only have power in some
• President Corp v. family reunion

4
Dahrendorf's Assumptions

• Dahrendorf believes
• Functionalists are utopian
• A society with the absence of power struggles
  or conflict
• Real societies
• Society maintains tension between stasis and
  change,
• consensus and coercion
• function and conflict

5
Social Structure, Group Interests, and Conflict
Groups

• The central questioned of all social thought
• How do societies adhere?
• Two well established positions
• The Utopians (Functional Theory)
• Represented by the Functional Theory
• The Rationalists (Conflict Theory)
• Represented by Conflict Theory
• Conflict between the two positions is old.
• Aristotle vs. Plato
• Hobbes vs. Rousseau
• Kant vs. Hegel
• the debate has intensified.

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Utopians V. Rationalists

• Unless one believes that all philosophical
  arguments are irrelevant
• the debate was exposed the fundamental
  alternatives of knowledge, moral and political
  orientation.
• Utopians are represented by the Functional theory
  of society
• Rationalists are represented by the Conflict
  theory of society
• The two positions are mutually exclusive in most
  fields and people, but not is sociology.
• Good Sociology uses one in A, another in B and
  both in C. but does not exclude any.

7
Parsons Functionalism

• Parsons is not aware of the rationalists
  conception of society
• Parson includes no power struggles in society
• He envisions a utopian society of consensus and
  agreement
• How can functionalism explain daily conflict and
  disequilibria in society?

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Functionalist vs. Conflict Theories

• Functionalism Theory of Society
• Every society is relatively persistent, stable
  structure of elements
• Every society is a well integrated structure of
  elements
• Every element in a society has a function. (i.e.
  contributes to the maintenance)
• Every function in the social structure is based
  on a consensus of values between members
• How can the theory explain a situation where
  employees of one company, go on a strike that
  leads to a general revolt against society?

9
Conflict Theory of Society

• Every Society is at every point subject to the
  processes of change. Change is everywhere.
• Every Society displays at every point dissensus
  and conflict. Conflict is everywhere
• Every Element in a society contributes to its
  disintegration and change
• Every Society is based on coercion of some
  members by others.

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Dahrendorfs Conflict Theory

• Using Conflict theory he tries to show
• How relations of authority become productive of
  clashes of role interest, which
• Under certain conditions leads to the formation
  of organized antagonistic groups within limited
  social organizations and societies.

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Power and Authority

• Two basic premises
• Certain people are entrusted with the right to
  exercise effective coercion over others
• There is a differential distribution of power
  and authority
• The central thesis
• The different distribution of authority creates
  systematic social conflicts (similar to the class
  conflicts described by Marx)

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Power Defined

• The probability that one actor within a social
  relationship will be in a position to carry out
  his/her will despite the resistance of others,
  regardless of the base of power.
• Bases of Power
• Reward
• Coercive
• Legitimate
• Referent
• Expert

13
Authority Defined

• The probability that a command with a given
  specific content will be obeyed by a given group
  of people.
• Does authority require a power base for
  existence?
• For Example expertise or referent

14
Power v. Authority

• The difference between P/A
• Power is essentially tied to the personality of
  the individual, but
• Authority is always associated with social
  positions (status)
• Dahrendorf is only concerned in his presentation
  with authority
• Authority alone is part of the social structure,
  and therefore permits group conflicts
• Power only permits personal conflict

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Authority and Conflict

• The reasons why authority always produces
  conflict
• Authority relations are always super and
  subordination
• The super ordinate is expected to control the
  subordinate
• Expectation are attached to status positions
  rather than the character of the individual
• Authority relations specify the persons subject
  to control and the spheres within which control
  is permissible
• Voluntary relations or socialized relations,
  there is a duty to obey
• Authority that is perceived as legitimate
  threatens negative sanctions for non-compliance
• The function of the legal system to support the
  exercise of legitimate authority

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Imperatively Coordinated Associations

• An association is the coordination of roles
• Super Ordinate
• Sub Ordinate
• Tasks require effort coordination by group
  members
• No task -gt No coordination
• Task introduction -gt Coordination requirement

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Conflict Analysis

• Investigates
• the generation of conflict groups created by
  authority relations in imperatively coordinated
  associations
• the unit of analysis is the specific association
• the dichotomy of authority positions
• Do all associations involve super ordinate and
  sub ordinate positions?

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Conflict Analysis cont.

• Super ordinate/Sub ordinate dichotomy in all
  forms of associations
• Everyone takes part in a large number of
  different ICAs
• Sometimes we are super ordinate
• Sometimes we are sub ordinate

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Power and Authority in Conflict Analysis

• Is power a zero-sum concept?
• Power is never a zero sum game
• Everyone, in every association has some power
• Power, while not evenly distributed, is
  ubiquitous
• Authority is a zero - sum concept
• No matter how subtitle the distribution
• Always a line
• Those with authority (no matter how little) and
  those without

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Elites in Society (ICAs)

• Elites are those who represent the super ordinate
  group in any ICA
• Generally, subordinates out number the super
  ordinate
• But in post industrial society, the number of
  people clearly subjected to authority decreases
• Elites are only elite in specific associations

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Elite Classes in Society

• Always conflict between elites in different
  associations
• The upper structure of society is not necessarily
  the elite class
• There is constant change
• Based on the given authority relations of the
  moment

22
The Masses and Suppressed

• The masses as typically viewed
• Ignorant
• Powerless
• Apathetic
• Dahrendorf View
• Intelligent
• Empowered
• Interested

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Generalizations about the masses

• Not necessarily the major of an association
• 2. Members are not necessarily connected by like
  culture
• 3. Existence is related to a particular
  association