Conflict theory and its Basic Assumption
The conflict theory comes into the existence from the writing of the Karl Marx in the criticism of structuralist-Functionalist theory in the 1970s.Conflict Theorist contend that a full understanding of the society requires the critical examination of the competition and conflict in society, especially of the process by which some people become winner and the others become losers as a result, conflict address that points of the stress and the conflict in society and the way in which they contribute to social change.The conflict Theory is also called Marxism to indicate that the main impetus to the theory derives from the writing of the Karl Marx .
Summary
The conflict theory comes into the existence from the writing of the Karl Marx in the criticism of structuralist-Functionalist theory in the 1970s.Conflict Theorist contend that a full understanding of the society requires the critical examination of the competition and conflict in society, especially of the process by which some people become winner and the others become losers as a result, conflict address that points of the stress and the conflict in society and the way in which they contribute to social change.The conflict Theory is also called Marxism to indicate that the main impetus to the theory derives from the writing of the Karl Marx .
Things to Remember
1.The conflict theory comes into the existence from the writing of the Karl Marx in the criticism of structuralist-Functionalist theory in the 1970s.
2.The conflict theory is also called Marxism to indicate that the main impetus to the theory derives from the writing of the Karl Marx .
3.Conflict theory sees society as being made up of individuals who must compete for the social , political, and the material resources such as the political power, leisure time , money, housing and the entertainment.
4.Max focused on the class conflict and the economic system , Max weber looked more at the combination of the economic and the political power .Weber expanded the idea of the class into three dimensions of the stratification: Class , status, and the power.
5.Conflict theory is unstable of the opposing groups and the classes. It is a group of the social people who are sharing the similar economic interest and the power needs.
MCQs
No MCQs found.
Subjective Questions
Q1:
Write the concept of International council of nurses (ICN) ?
Type: Short Difficulty: Easy
Q2:
What are the Elements of the code ?
Type: Long Difficulty: Easy
<ol>
<li>Nurses and people: The nurse’s primary professional responsibility is to people requiring nursing care. In providing care, the nurse promotes an environment in which the human rights, values, customs and spiritual beliefs of the individual, family and community are respected. The nurse ensures that the individual receives accurate, sufficient and timely information in a culturally appropriate manner on which to base consent for care and related treatment. The nurse holds in confidence personal information and uses judgement in sharing this information. The nurse shares with society the responsibility for initiating and supporting action to meet the health and social needs of the public, in particular those of vulnerable populations. The nurse advocates for equity and social justice in resource allocation, access to health care and other social and economic services. The nurse demonstrates professional values such as respectfulness, responsiveness, compassion, trustworthiness and integrity.</li>
<li>Nurses and practice: The nurse carries personal responsibility and accountability for nursing practice, and for maintaining competence by continual learning. The nurse maintains a standard of personal health such that the ability to provide care is not compromised. The nurse uses judgement regarding individual competence when accepting and delegating responsibility. The nurse at all times maintains standards of personal conduct which reflect well on the profession and enhance its image and public confidence. The nurse, in providing care, ensures that use of technology and scientific advances are compatible with the safety, dignity and rights of people. The nurse strives to foster and maintain a practice culture promoting ethical behaviour and open dialogue.</li>
<li>Nurses and the profession: The nurse assumes the major role in determining and implementing acceptable standards of clinical nursing practice, management, research and education. The nurse is active in developing a core of research-based professional knowledge that supports evidence-based practice. The nurse is active in developing and sustaining a core of professional values. The nurse, acting through the professional organization, participates in creating a positive practice environment and maintaining safe, equitable social and economic working conditions in nursing.The nurse practices to sustain and protect the natural environment and is aware of its consequences on health. The nurse contributes to an ethical organizational environment and challenges unethical practices and settings.</li>
</ol>
<p>4. Nurses and co-workers: The nurse sustains a collaborative and respectful relationship with co-workers in nursing and other fields. The nurse takes appropriate action to safeguard individuals, families and communities when their health is endangered by a co-worker or any other person. The nurse takes appropriate action to support and guide co-workers to advance ethical conduct</p>
Videos
No videos found.
Conflict theory and its Basic Assumption
Conflict Perspective And Its Basic Assumption
The conflict theory comes into the existence from the writing of the Karl Marx in the criticism of structuralist-Functionalist theory in the 1970s.Conflict Theorist contend that a full understanding of the society requires the critical examination of the competition and conflict in society, especially of the process by which some people become winner and the others become losers, as a result conflict address that points of the stress and the conflict in society and the way in which they contribute to social change.
Karl Marx and the Conflict Theory
The work of the Karl Marx is often credited with providing the sociological roots of the conflict perspective . Marx was born in Germany during the stormy period in which western Europe was transitioning from feudalism to capitalism the industry revolution was in full swing ,and max observed inequality throughout the growing capitalist society.The economics of capitalism he left resulted in social classes that were constantly in the competition for the societies limited resources. Marx saw rich workers who were paid little , often toiled long hours in dangerous conditions and frequently lived in the crowded and the unhealthy spaces . Society as Marx saw it was on ongoing struggle between the classes: the "haves" and the" have-nots". The result was social conflict and changes as those without resources challenged those holding the resources for a piece of the proverbial pie(stolley,2005).
The Conflict Theory is also called Marxism to indicate that the main impetus to the theory derives from the writing of the Karl Marx . The conflict perspectives in sociology consider basic conditions of the social life as the disagreement and the struggle which arises when individuals or the group compete for the scarce but the valuable resources of the life like power ,prestige , or property. Marx saw society as comprising of the two main classes ,the ruling minority and the subject class that forms the majority .It asks such questions as what pulls the society apart.How does the society change?The relationship between the classes in the various historical stages has been that of the struggle and the conflict . In his view, only an egalitarian pattern of the resources distribution would end the class conflict(Rex,1981;quoted in subberwaql ,2008).The primitives societies were supposed to have been egalitarian in nature because these societies were chief class i.e there were no rulers like the king , queen, president and so on to control the member of the society. In the other word, in egalitarian societies all the members of the society were of the equal status and all had the equal access to the resources.The conflict theory holds that the most important aspect of the social order is dominant of some groups from the other, that actual or the potential conflicts are always present in the society ,the writing of the Karl Marx are generally in the spirit of the conflict theory and the marxism influences most of the conflict theorists in modern sociology.
Conflict theory sees society as being made up of individuals who must compete for the social ,political, and the material resources such as the political power, leisure time , money ,housing and the entertainment. Social structures and the organization such as religious group government and the cooperation reflect this competition in their inherent inequalities. Some individuals and the organization are able to obtain and keep more resources than the others,these "winners" use their power and the influence to maintain their position of the power in the society and to suppress the advancement of other individuals and the group of the early foundation of the sociology , Karl Marx is most closely identified with this theory.He focused on the economic conflict between the different social classes . As he and Frederick Engels famously described in their communist manifesto, "the history of all higher existing society is the history of class struggling. The following manifesto helps us to know how Marx gave emphasis on the conflict in order to bring the social change.
Marx "Communist Manifesto"
1) Capitalism causes inequality and the oppression in society, inevitable stage in societies progression to equality through socialism.
2.Capitalism produces the two group_ bourgeoisie and the proletariat
3. Because of the need for accumulation of the capital , the Bourgeoisie must remain competitive by exploiting the workers .
4.Because the worker is exploited he or she becomes the commodity or the product which the Marx means anything for the purposes of the exchange.
5.When the worker is commoditized and exploited she or he becomes isolated ,disconnected from the product and the process of labor and from other workers and the humanity.
6. For max ,society is constantly moving toward the communist utopia.
Max Weber and the conflict theory
Max focused on the class conflict and the economic system , Max weber looked more at the combination of the economic and the political power .Weber expanded the idea of the class into three dimensions of the stratification: class ,status, and the power. In most eras, there would be a great deal of overlap among the three dimensions. For example, someone high in class would also tend to be high in status and the political power(Korgen and the white, 2011).
According to the weber , the level of the inequalities could also be different for the different groups based on the education ,race gender, as long as these conflicts remained separate , the system as a whole was not threatened . Weber also identified several factors that moderate the people's reaction to the inequality. If the authority of the people was in the power,then the conflict was in the less intense.
Marx Focused on the class conflict as the chief source of the historic change while others , especially Max weber and Talcott parsons see conflict among groups and the individuals as a fact of the life unrelated to the class , for example, the conflict can occur over the water rights .Conflicts occur when the two people have the car accident .Conflict occurs between the man and the women.
Assumptions behind the Conflict Theory
Conflict theory is derived from the max ideas. Brinkerhoff(2012)mentioned the three primary assumptions of the conflict theory.
1.Competition
Competition over the scare resources is at the heart of all the social relationships competition rather than the consensus is the characteristics of the human relationship.
2. Structural inequality
Inequalities in the power and the reward are built in all social structures .Individuals and the groups that are benefited from any particular structure strive to see it maintained.
3. Social change
Change occur as the result of the conflict between the competing interests rather than the adaptation .It is often abrupt and the revolutionary , rather than evolutionary and is often helpful rather than harmful for the society.
In a nutshell, Conflict theory is unstable of the opposing groups and the classes. It is a group of the social people who are sharing the similar economic interest and the power needs .Develops from the sources of some in exploiting others. Social inequality is unnecessary and unjust .
References
Bhandari, Laxman P. Fundamentals of Sociology. Kathmandu: Buddha, 1915.
Tishler, Henry L. Introduction to Sociology. 10th Ed. Cengage Advantage Books:USA
The Social Development Notes. The World Bank.
Tang, Shipping. 2011. A General Theory of Institutional Change. Rutledge Studies in the Modern World Economy.
Lesson
Theoretical Perspectives in Sociology
Subject
Sociology for Business
Grade
Bachelor of Business Management
Recent Notes
No recent notes.
Related Notes
No related notes.