Conflict Theory

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Questions and Answers

What is the existing generally accepted state of a society called?

  • Antithesis
  • Reaction
  • Thesis (correct)
  • Synthesis

What is the outcome of the struggle between the thesis and antithesis?

  • A compromise or synthesis is reached (correct)
  • The thesis is eliminated
  • The antithesis is eliminated
  • A new thesis is formed

What is the role of the middle class in the synthesis?

  • They have more power than the factory owners (correct)
  • They create a new thesis
  • They become the new factory owners
  • They are eliminated

What can be the source of an antithesis?

<p>Any source of unrest or tension (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a limitation of conflict theory?

<p>It doesn't explain how a society is held together (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary focus of conflict theory in studying society?

<p>The inequalities of different groups in a society (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

According to Karl Marx, what was the final stage of society that he believed would be achieved through revolution?

<p>Socialism (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In a capitalist society, who held the majority of the power?

<p>The bourgeoisie (upper class) (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was the primary way in which the proletariat made a living in a capitalist society?

<p>By selling their labor to the factory owners (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What did Marx believe would be the outcome of the economic inequality between the factory owners and the workers?

<p>The workers would unite to create a class consciousness and overthrow the capitalist system (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In a capitalist society, what is the primary source of tension that leads to the formation of an antithesis?

<p>The desire of the working class to change the way things are (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the result of the synthesis of the thesis and antithesis in the context of conflict theory?

<p>A compromise between the two opposing sides, resulting in a new social state (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does conflict theory view the role of the middle class in society?

<p>As a newly empowered group that may become a new thesis (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a key limitation of conflict theory in understanding society?

<p>It ignores the stability that a society can experience (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary focus of conflict theory in studying society?

<p>Modeling the often drastic changes that occur in a society (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the underlying assumption of Karl Marx's model of societal change?

<p>That the seeds of a society's destruction are contained within its economic structure. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In a capitalist society, what is the primary way in which the bourgeoisie maintain their power?

<p>Through their control of the means of production. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the phenomenon where the working class becomes aware of their shared economic interests and unites against the capitalist class?

<p>Class consciousness (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of the proletariat in a capitalist society, according to Marx?

<p>To provide labor in exchange for wages. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary focus of conflict theory in studying society, as proposed by Marx?

<p>The impact of economic inequality on social relations. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the main focus of conflict theory in studying society?

<p>The inequalities of different groups in a society (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Who held the majority of the power in a capitalist society in 19th century Europe?

<p>The bourgeoisie (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the phenomenon where the working class becomes aware of their shared economic interests and unites against the capitalist class?

<p>Class consciousness (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary way in which the proletariat made a living in a capitalist society?

<p>By selling their labor (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the underlying assumption of Karl Marx's model of societal change?

<p>That a society will evolve through stages of feudalism, capitalism, and socialism (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary driver of change in a society according to conflict theory?

<p>The tension between the thesis and antithesis (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the outcome of the synthesis of the thesis and antithesis?

<p>The creation of a new thesis (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a key characteristic of the antithesis?

<p>It opposes the existing thesis (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is an example of a historical movement that demonstrates conflict theory?

<p>The Civil Rights Movement (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a limitation of conflict theory?

<p>It does not account for the stability of society (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

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Study Notes

Conflict Theory

  • Focuses on the inequalities of different groups in a society
  • Based on Karl Marx's ideas from the 19th century
  • Marx believed society evolves through several stages: feudalism, capitalism, and finally socialism

19th Century Europe: Capitalist Society

  • Rich upper class (bourgeoisie) were a minority of the population
  • Poor lower class (proletariat) were the majority
  • Bourgeoisie owned factories, produced goods, and sold to earn a living
  • Proletariat only had their labor to sell to make a living and were dependent on factory owners

Economic Inequality

  • Significant economic inequality between factory owners and workers
  • Marx believed this inequality would fuel a change in society
  • Workers would unite to create a class consciousness and overthrow the capitalist status quo

Marx's Model

  • A society where one group exploits another economically contains the seeds of its own destruction
  • The existing state (thesis) would cause the formation of a reaction (antithesis) that opposes the accepted state
  • The thesis and antithesis can't exist together peacefully, leading to a compromise or synthesis of the two

Thesis, Antithesis, and Synthesis

  • Example: in a capitalist society, the thesis is that the bourgeoisie run factories while the working class provides labor
  • The antithesis is the desire of the working class to change the way things are
  • The synthesis is the creation of a new middle class that has more power than the factory owners themselves
  • The synthesis would eventually become a new thesis and begin the process again

Applications of Conflict Theory

  • Examples include the struggle for African-American equal rights and the women's suffrage movement
  • Each conflict between the status quo and its opposition resolves into a new thesis, waiting for the next source of tension

Limitations of Conflict Theory

  • Doesn't take into account the stability that a society can experience
  • Doesn't explain how a society is held together
  • Doesn't like the status quo

Conflict Theory

  • Focuses on the inequalities of different groups in a society
  • Based on Karl Marx's ideas from the 19th century
  • Marx believed society evolves through several stages: feudalism, capitalism, and finally socialism

19th Century Europe: Capitalist Society

  • Rich upper class (bourgeoisie) were a minority of the population
  • Poor lower class (proletariat) were the majority
  • Bourgeoisie owned factories, produced goods, and sold to earn a living
  • Proletariat only had their labor to sell to make a living and were dependent on factory owners

Economic Inequality

  • Significant economic inequality between factory owners and workers
  • Marx believed this inequality would fuel a change in society
  • Workers would unite to create a class consciousness and overthrow the capitalist status quo

Marx's Model

  • A society where one group exploits another economically contains the seeds of its own destruction
  • The existing state (thesis) would cause the formation of a reaction (antithesis) that opposes the accepted state
  • The thesis and antithesis can't exist together peacefully, leading to a compromise or synthesis of the two

Thesis, Antithesis, and Synthesis

  • Example: in a capitalist society, the thesis is that the bourgeoisie run factories while the working class provides labor
  • The antithesis is the desire of the working class to change the way things are
  • The synthesis is the creation of a new middle class that has more power than the factory owners themselves
  • The synthesis would eventually become a new thesis and begin the process again

Applications of Conflict Theory

  • Examples include the struggle for African-American equal rights and the women's suffrage movement
  • Each conflict between the status quo and its opposition resolves into a new thesis, waiting for the next source of tension

Limitations of Conflict Theory

  • Doesn't take into account the stability that a society can experience
  • Doesn't explain how a society is held together
  • Doesn't like the status quo

Conflict Theory

  • Focuses on the inequalities of different groups in a society
  • Based on Karl Marx's ideas from the 19th century
  • Marx believed society evolves through several stages: feudalism, capitalism, and finally socialism

19th Century Europe: Capitalist Society

  • Rich upper class (bourgeoisie) were a minority of the population
  • Poor lower class (proletariat) were the majority
  • Bourgeoisie owned factories, produced goods, and sold to earn a living
  • Proletariat only had their labor to sell to make a living and were dependent on factory owners

Economic Inequality

  • Significant economic inequality between factory owners and workers
  • Marx believed this inequality would fuel a change in society
  • Workers would unite to create a class consciousness and overthrow the capitalist status quo

Marx's Model

  • A society where one group exploits another economically contains the seeds of its own destruction
  • The existing state (thesis) would cause the formation of a reaction (antithesis) that opposes the accepted state
  • The thesis and antithesis can't exist together peacefully, leading to a compromise or synthesis of the two

Thesis, Antithesis, and Synthesis

  • Example: in a capitalist society, the thesis is that the bourgeoisie run factories while the working class provides labor
  • The antithesis is the desire of the working class to change the way things are
  • The synthesis is the creation of a new middle class that has more power than the factory owners themselves
  • The synthesis would eventually become a new thesis and begin the process again

Applications of Conflict Theory

  • Examples include the struggle for African-American equal rights and the women's suffrage movement
  • Each conflict between the status quo and its opposition resolves into a new thesis, waiting for the next source of tension

Limitations of Conflict Theory

  • Doesn't take into account the stability that a society can experience
  • Doesn't explain how a society is held together
  • Doesn't like the status quo

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