CONFLICT THEORY

Theories aboutPower & Inequality,

Coercion & Change

Class 3

Based on the ideas that…

Coercion & power determine the social order

Groups struggle to maintain power

One group’s ability to control another group leads to conflict

All societies have conflict

Conflict produces social change

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What IS conflict?

―Conflict is a struggle

– between individuals or collectivities

– over values or

– claims to status, power, & scarce resources

in which the aims of the conflicting parties are

– to assert their values or claims over those of others‖

Goodhand & Hulme (1999), p. 14

3

Conflict theories assert that…

All problems are created by disparities

between groups or classes

& how they struggle with each other for dignity & the

necessities of life

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But first, what is ―social class‖?

CLASS– a group of people who share the same social status

– status may be due to education, family, occupation, gender, income, ethnicity, religion

CLASS STRUCTURE– social hierarchy of classes in a society from high to low

stratification of inequality

– status based on perceived power in society ex: economic, physical, familial, political, or religious power

– ―poverty‖ class the group of people with the least economic status or power

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Some societies & cultures are more ―stratified‖

than others…have more clearly defined

groups or classes

What determines social class structure in the Philippines &

Mindanao?

The origins of conflict theory

Developed from ideas of Karl Marx (1818-83) & Frederick Engels (1820-95) in Europe

They believed:

– Society is a class struggle between the workers (wage earners) & the capitalists (the owners)

– Capitalists exploit the workers

– Conflict is primarily economic

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Based on their observations of society, they proposed…

CONFLICT is…– Inevitable—it is bound to happen

– Continual—it will always happen

– Due to class differences—it results from society’s inequality & class struggles, especially about production

TRUTH can be known…– By understanding how social forces work

– By recognizing contradictions within social forces & class struggles in society

8

Marx proposed that…

The religious, political, & economic ideas of the wealthy reinforce the ―status quo‖– It is in the best interest of the

class in power to maintain the status quo

People not in power should ―unite‖ in their struggle against the ruling class, creating a revolution

9

Class & bureaucracy

Max Weber (1864-1920), father of modern sociology, expanded views about class & power

Weber believed most power comes from state bureaucracies & those who govern – Bureaucracies control & dominate society

– Bureaucracies have top-down organizations

– Managers & workers are in conflict with those who govern

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Weber’s view of ―class‖

Defined class as a group of people that share the same life status or situation

– they have in common the same ―life chances‖

―Class situation‖ is one’s access to goods, living conditions, life experiences

– ―class situation‖ is connected with economic situation

―Acquisition class‖ is the group that has the opportunity to exploit the market

11

Weber’s definition of ―power‖

Power is the chance to realize one’s will or control over the resistance of others

Bureaucratic control, social status, & political power also depend on class

But ultimately, social class is determined by economic power

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―The Power Elite‖

Combining ideas from Marx & Weber,

C. Wright Mills (1916-1962) proposed model of power relations called ―the power elite‖

Proposed 3 levels of society

– Power elite (top level of power)

Interlocking industrial, political, & military power

– Government planners (middle level of power)

– The masses (bottom level of power)

13

More thoughts about ―power‖

Social exchange theorists proposed that power can only be understood in terms of social relationships

Power is not an attribute of an individual actor

Power is related to the ―mutual dependency‖ in the relationship of people

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What does this mean?

The degree that group A has power over group B depends on the degree to which A has control over B’s resources

Dependency includes both the ―availability‖ of resources & the ―motivational investment‖ of the groups involved

If resources are available from other sources, group A does not have as much power over group B

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In summary, the main ideas of conflict theory are…

Groups & individuals try to advance their interests over the interests of others

Power is unequally divided & some groups dominate others

Social order is based on manipulation & control of nondominant groups by dominant groups

Lack of open conflict is a sign of exploitation

Members of nondominant groups become alienated from society

Social change is driven by conflict, with periods of change interrupting long periods of stability

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Conflict theory’s contributionto social work practice

Recognizes the interconnection between social structure, culture, personality

Helps explain the roots of social injustice, including oppression due to gender difference

Rejects the status quo & the equilibrium that aims to maintain inequality

Recognizes that numerous social conflicts can be occurring at the same time

Recognizes that people can have overlapping status groups & conflicts between the groups

Provides an activist model for social work practice

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How applicable are these ideas about conflict & power for your work?

Do you see social classes in the Philippines? & Mindanao?

What classes have ―power‖?

What determines the power?

Are social classes or groups mutually dependent?

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Does social change have to occur through armed

conflict & violence?

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Can conflict be ―transformational‖?

Can you think of some positive outcomes of conflict?

Current revisions of Marxian Ideas

Contemporary theorists propose that economic globalization & global capitalism ―are at the root of many of the challenges that social workers & their clients face‖

(Morrell, cited in Robbins et al., p. 72)

―Monopoly capitalism‖ through private corporations increase profits of upper classes, reinforced by support of governments

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What do you think about the following quote from PSA’s Philippines Weekly Report?

―The World Bank recently cited that soaring food and fuel prices are greater challenges

to Asian governments…Indeed, as a trigger for potential social

unrest, the rice problem in the Philippines has major political, economic, and social

implications.‖

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Some contemporary scholars propose that…

Conflict is a ―social process‖ that canbe positive

Conflict can potentially contribute to development, change, & eventual stability

– (Goodhand & Hulme,1999)

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What do you think?

What determines a positive transformation?

What are the different roles of men & women in this

transformation in Mindanao?