Week 3 - Conflict Theory PDF

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Week 3 1008CCJ – Conflict Theory

CONTENT - Theorists world view . macro view of society . societal structure leads to macro conflicts between groups . used more for subversive conflicts . society is in a constant struggle over scarce resources . resources associated with money and power . results in an unequal system

Groups: . bottom tier works harder for the people in the top . capitalism “an economic system characterized by private ownership of the means of production and distribution and distribution of goods and services for profit in a competitive market” (Mooney et al, 2017, p.215) . e.g retail pyramid (employees, and CEO’s) + pay gap, abortion laws, family financial division, discrimination

Early theorists: Karl Marx: - effects of industrial capitalism - impact of economic system on social life/human history - “how people were making money out of other people” e.g. Bourgeoise power of Proletariat CLASS CONSCIOUSNESS: - workers can’t realise that they are being taken advantage of = making people aware of how they are treated (Russian Rev.) DIVISION OF LABOUR: - separation of workers into specialised fields (car factories) e.g. due to stress of alienation = you need an escape (drug use, alcoholism, impact on relationship) “you have nothing to lose but your chain” Marx

Max Weber: - agreed with and expanded Marx (legitimacy of power) - role of economics in power relations but also social status . social prestige . politics . power . authority *not just money

Pierre Bourdieu: - types of capital - symbolic dominance and violence e.g. power can be who you know and how many people follow you VIOLENCE: - symbolic dimension of dominance contributes to the maintenance of social inequality - symbolic violence: the “imposition on subordinated groups by the dominant class of an ideology which legitimates and naturalizes the status quo” (Oxford) *getting the minority to agree with you

Raewynn Connell: - seminal conflict theorist in Australia - power associated with class, the media, gender e.g. how is gender associated with power

Main criticisms - too radical (feminism) - resumes status quo benefits the ruling class - makes assumption that powerful people oppress the weak - attributes positive aspects of society to capitalistic designs to control the masses e.g. health care system (gives opportunity for people to go back to work quicker) - assumes that competition is negative - overly deterministic, ignoring individual agency (classifying group instead of people as an individual)

Social Problems that Relate:

REVISION QUESTION: Conflict theorists regard the regulation of certain drugs, as well as drug use itself, as a reflection of differences in the political, economic, and social power of various groups. Discuss....