What is conflict theory

Conflict theory is the topic of hierarchy in society

What are the core concepts of conflict theory

Competition, domination, submission, obedience, etc.

How do social resources explored in conflict theory

There is an unequal distribution of social resources

Representatives of conflict theory

- Karl Marx - Max Weber - C.W. Mills - R. Dahrendof - W.E.B DuBois

Karl Marx

- Father of communism - Proposed the idea of class

The capitalist and the worker

- Capitalist have money, land, machines, factories - Working class works for the capitalist (exchange of labor for wages) - Relationship between the capitalist and the worker is extremely exploitative

Surplus value

Production cost versus the value of the product

Max Weber

Proposed the idea of different types of authorities found in society: Traditional, Charismatic, Rational

Traditional authority

Authority through social tradition, family, etc.

Charismatic authority

An authority figures personality aligns with power

Rational authority

An authority figure gains power through political involvement or the law

C.W. Mills

Proposed the America is controlled by the elites: Capitalists, Political officials, Military Elites, etc.

R. Dahrendof

Proposed the idea of ICA's: Imperatively, Coordinated, Associations

What are imperatively coordinated associations

- A group of people that share a negative common experience (discrimination, abuse etc.) - These groups are not organized, although came become organized due to shared experiences

W.E.B DuBois

- Applied the idea of conflict theory to race: America is controlled by the elites (whites) and social resources are not equality distributed to the rest of society (people of color) - this same idea can be applied to multiple areas of society (gender etc.)