Sociological theory is basically about the relationship
between social life and the society. It includes
various social issues presented in any society.
For instance, issues related to social classes,
like clash of ideologies, other issues like social
control, power relationship in any society, gender
issues, socio-economic issues etc. etc. So these
are the social issues that are talked about by
many theorists in different times.
Therefore, sociological theory is related to
the social issues of any society like communism
and capitalism are two different ideologies related
to two different social classes, which raised
social conflict in the society.
Conflict Theory
However, conflict theory is an extension of the
sociological theory that discusses the various
social issues leading to conflict in any society.
Various theorists have worked on different issues
and provided their conflict theory, which is directly
or indirectly related to the society. For instance,
Karl Marx is a popular sociological theorist who
provided extensive work on the conflict theory
relating to the economic basis of the society
in relation to the social classes. He basically
highlighted the class struggle and supported the
working class for a healthy society.
Therefore, conflict theory is related to the
society and organization whereby each individual
participates with its group in the struggle to
maximize its benefit to bring any social change
in the society. Such changes include political
change, social change or revolutions. Hence the
conflict theory is best applied to explain the
conflicts between social classes and clash of
ideologies with in the society, like communism
and socialism.
Moreover, competition is the key element that
instigates any conflict in the society. These
conflicts could be understood as the primary assumptions
of conflict theory. For instance, the structural
inequalities in power and culture relationship
in any society or the competition with in human
relationships regarding money, sexual power and
leisure are born out of competition and leads
to major conflicts that in future becomes a subject
of sociological theorists.
Conflict Theory Presented by Ralf Dahrendorf
The contemporary and traditional theorist of
sociology presented 3 assumptions related to the
conflict theory, which are the basic elements
of conflict with in a class society. These include,
interests which is commonly presented in various
groups of the society, Power is the second assumption
related to conflict theory that develops inequalities
and leads to coercion among various groups of
the society. Coercion is basically related to
the unequal distribution of resources with in
the various classes of the society that develops
different power groups. The third aspect of conflict
theory is related to the clash of ideologies and
conflicting values among the various classes of
a society.
Ralf Gustav Dahrendorf is a theorist who is considered
among the other theorists of contemporary sociology.
He is basically a German-British sociologist.
Though he has presented various theories related
to sociology like other theorists, but we are
going to discuss few aspects of his conflict theory.
However, the conflict theory presented by Ralf
is deep rooted in the theory of Karl Marx but
also an extension according to the contemporary
sociological theory of class and class conflict
in industrial society. (Dahrendorf, 1959)
While discussing conflict theory, Ralf assumed
that the various elements of the society participate
directly or indirectly in the conflicts of any
society, so conflicts exists between these elements
of the society. Therefore social change is ubiquitous,
which instigates conflicts between different classes
and among the various elements of the society.
(Ritzer, Part I, 2002) So his theory states that
conflict occurs in every society and class but
the roots of conflict in any society or class
lies in integration. When two groups or classes
are living in a society they cohere either due
to clash of interest, ideologies or any other
reason.
This ultimately results to conflict with in a
society. Nonetheless, the difference between power
and authority leads to coherence and conflicts
with in a society. So Ralf assumes that power
and authority are the root causes of coherence
that results to conflicts with in the society
among various classes. (Ritzer, Part I, 2002)
Therefore, while studying the conflict theory
of Ralf, it comes to our understanding that there
are two key elements that lead to conflict in
a society. Where integration is the basic elements
that initiates the cycle of coherence resulting
to conflict. On the other hand when two groups
or classes integrate in a society, one becomes
dominant over the other due to the unequal division
of resources. This results into difference of
division of power and authority. So the powerful
and the weak become the principle conflicting
groups thus, conflict among classes stimulates.
Conflict Theory of Karl Marx
The Conflict theory of Karl Marx is related to
class struggle, which discusses two different
classes as the principle conflicting groups with
in an industrialized society. However, these groups
are integrated with in the same society belong
to two different classes and cohere with each
other due to the negative distribution of resources
and power. These groups or classes with in the
same society are the working class and the elite
class. (Ritzer, Part I, Ch. 11, 2002)
The sociological name given to them is the bourgeoisie
(labor) class and the upper class known as the
ruling class. So due to integrating with in the
same state, these two classes developed an ideological
conflict which was born out of the interest of
the ruling class (capitalist and industrialists)
overriding the interests of the working class.
So he believed that individual interest does not
initiate conflict, but class interest leads to
conflict with in a society. (Karl Marx and Friedrich
Engels 1930, pp. 46-50) This is what Karl Marx
believed when he presented his conflict theory
of communism and socialism. Therefore, he provided
a solution to bring all the classes of the society
on equilibrium via revolution.
Original Aspects of Ralf Theory and similarities
with Karl Marx
Though, the conflict theory of Ralf is depicted
from the theory of class struggle of Karl Marx,
which relates to the class conflict of the industrialized
society, there are many aspects of the theory
of Ralf that differ from the original theory of
Marx. Lets try to understand the original aspects
of Ralf theory, which differ from the theory of
Karl Marx and the similar aspects separately.
Original Aspects of Ralf Theory of Conflict
Since Ralf disagrees to the principle point of
Marx theory that economic interests are the only
interests among the classes of an industrialized
society that leads to conflict. He also does not
agree that revolution is the only way to abolish
class conflict. Moreover, he does not believe
that in the contemporary sociology, the upper
class only owns and controls the means of production
of any society.
Therefore, Ralf believes on a system where by
managers belonging to diverse classes of the society
actually control the economy of various business
corporations and industries. At the same time,
he believes that the economic division of power
due to unequal distribution of resources presented
by Karl Marx is altered in the contemporary society,
which allows the middle class to grow side by
side. This is basically due to the changing trends
of globalization and regionalism.
In the contemporary society, the means of acquiring
power has changes therefore; the interests and
distribution of power among the classes of a society
are also altered. So in these aspects the conflict
theory of Ralf differs from that of Marx, which
is the original aspect of Ralf’s theory.
Similarities Aspect with Marx Theory
Among the various differences between both the
theories presented by these two different theorists,
there are also few similar aspects of the conflict
theory presented by Ralf Dahrendorf and Marx.
For instance, likewise Marx, Ralf was also of
the opinion that the clash of interests, which
leads to coherence and conflict with in the society
are basically generated by the difference in structure
of the society defining different positions. So
both these theorist believe that interests are
basically generated by the structure of the society
not by the psychological forces.
Other Theorist and Dahrendorf
Though other theorists did not contributed directly
to the conflict theory one can understand their
perception regarding conflict theory by their
works. Therefore, these theorists indirectly differ
or agree to the conflict theory of Ralf Dahrendorf.
Lets try to compare to Dahrendorf Weber, Parsons,
Durkheim, and Spencer in brief.
Dahrendorf and Weber
Weber is another sociological theorist, from
where Dahrendorf took influence. Therefore, both
these theorist have similar views regarding conflict
theory. Disagreeing Marx, they believe that the
roots of conflict is not present in the class
conflicts but authority is responsible to give
birth to social conflict. Where the authority
does not reside in any individual position but
in bureaucracies, hierarchies and power groups,
which are associated to the political, economic
and other forces of the society. However, this
conflict spreads via different organizations,
business groups, communities in the society and
shapes into serious social conflict.
Dahrendorf and Durkheim
Durkheim believes that a social system is based
on natural unity among the various elements in
a society. However conflict is caused due to social
intervention, which is becoming complex due to
the legal obligations imposed by the society on
its very members. At the same time these social
interventions also affect the relationship among
the various social functions of the members of
any society. (Durkheim, “http://ssr1.uchicago.edu/PRELIMS/Theory/durkheim.html)
Therefore, like Dahrendorf, Durkheim also believes
that conflict is due to disturbance in the social
structure.
Dahrendorf and Spencer
Spencer believes that conflict arises with in
the society due to the different factors with
in the society when they socialize to each other.
He basically means that there are two basic relationships
in a society, which are voluntary and military.
Both these groups in the society are bond to cooperate
to each other. As far as voluntary cooperation
is concerned it is related to the industrialized
part of our society while the military is the
one where cooperation is necessary.
Spencer http://ssr1.uchicago.edu/PRELIMS/Theory/thmisc1.html#SPENCER
So for him, conflict arises in a society when
these elements fail to cooperate to each other
or the social order disturbs. Though he does not
disagree to Dahendorf, but believes that labor
is the uniting force in the industrial class of
the society and due to labor all the other classes
and elements in the society are mutually dependent
to each other.
Dahrendorf and Parsons
Talcott Parsons basically contributed to the
structural functionalism as a theory of modern
sociology. Though he talks about the structure
and function of the society that is indirectly
related to the conflict theory but he did not
presented any such model as the other theorist
of modern sociology. Therefore, his theory is
based on utopia as he has ideals for a social
structure.
He believes that there are four action systems
in a society, which perform different functions
that create a social order of any society. However,
the complex status role is the principle unit
of his theory, which is related to the various
actions of collective statuses. Therefore, he
believes that conflicts are born due to the role
of social norms and values in a society during
the process of socialization with in different
cultures. (George and Douglas http://highered.mcgraw-hill.com/sites/0072825782/
accessed on 31-10-04) Though Parson did not discussed
the conflict theory in an open manner but between
the lines one can observe his views that the social
structure and functioning of the various actors
in the society are the causes of conflict with
in a society.
These actors he believes are the hierarchical
powers that are distributed from high level to
low level. So it seems that his theory is a mixture
of all the other theorists and his personal opinion
seems to be either idealistic.
Therefore, sociological theory is related to
the very issues of a society and the organizations
and institutions in it. Where conflict theory
is concerned with the elements of the society
that cohere and lead to some conflict with in
a class of any society. However, the theories
presented by the theorist of traditional sociology
and the contemporary sociologists, differ in some
aspects as well as possess similar thoughts in
other aspects.
Therefore, the contemporary theorist, Ralf Dahrendorf
and the traditional theorist Karl Marx, in their
conflict theory of class and industrialists society
slightly differ from each other. Though Ralf’s
theory is depicted from Marx work but it is an
extension and alteration of the social issues
and class structure made according to the contemporary
sociology of the various societies and classes
that are affected by globalization and the changing
trends of global politics.
However, there are other theorists who did not
talk about the causes of conflict in a society
directly but indirectly they presented social
aspects as the reason of conflict. Though these
theorists do not agree explicitly to Rolf but
we also do not see any element of opposition to
the conflict theory of Rolf.
Works Cited
Dahrendorf, R. “Class and class conflict
in industrial society”. (1959) Stanford,
CA: Stanford University Press.
Ritzer, George “Contemporary Theory: Conflict
Theory and The Work of Ralf Dahrendorf”
in “Contemporary Sociological Theory and
Its Classical Roots: The Basics” (Part II,
2002)
Ritzer, George “Classical Grand Theories:
Karl Marx: From Capitalism to Communism”
in “Contemporary Sociological Theory and
Its Classical Roots: The Basics” (Part I,
chapter 11, 2002)
Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, “The German
Ideology” (New York, International Publishers,
1930), pp. 46-50.
Durkhem, Emile “On the Division of Labor
in Society” available at “http://ssr1.uchicago.edu/PRELIMS/Theory/durkheim.html
accessed on 01-11-04
Spencer, Herbert “The Nature of Society
TS” available at http://ssr1.uchicago.edu/PRELIMS/Theory/thmisc1.html#SPENCER
accessed on 01-11-04
Ritzer, George and Goodman, J. Douglas “Structural
Functionalism, Neo-functionalism, and Conflict
Theory” in “Modern Sociological Theory”
available at http://highered.mcgraw-hill.com/sites/0072825782/
accessed on 31-10-04
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