Conflict TheoryConflict Theory

Estranged LabourEstranged Labour

The worker, under capitalism, is “the most wretched The worker, under capitalism, is “the most wretched of commodities,” (p. 30). A commodity is a thing of commodities,” (p. 30). A commodity is a thing that can be bought and sold. that can be bought and sold.

The more important a worker’s labour is, the less The more important a worker’s labour is, the less power she has.power she has.

So, for instance, we live in a society that loves So, for instance, we live in a society that loves clothes very much and which offers fairly cheap clothes very much and which offers fairly cheap clothes to all. Clothing is important to our survival, clothes to all. Clothing is important to our survival, and it also important to our culture.and it also important to our culture.

But the makers of our clothing are often sweatshop But the makers of our clothing are often sweatshop workers in foreign countries who make almost workers in foreign countries who make almost nothing for this important work. nothing for this important work.

Ever felt like a commodity in your job?Ever felt like a commodity in your job?

Estranged LabourEstranged Labour The worker is “estranged” (or alienated) in The worker is “estranged” (or alienated) in

many ways.many ways. First, the worker is alienated from what he First, the worker is alienated from what he

produces. produces. Second, the worker is alienated from her labor, Second, the worker is alienated from her labor,

from the act of production.from the act of production. Third, the worker is alienated from nature.Third, the worker is alienated from nature. Fourth, the worker is alienated from himself, Fourth, the worker is alienated from himself,

including his body and his emotions.including his body and his emotions. Once alienated, these four things—the Once alienated, these four things—the

product, the labor, nature, and the worker product, the labor, nature, and the worker herself—become the property of the herself—become the property of the capitalist (the owner of the business).capitalist (the owner of the business).

Can you illustrate this with your own Can you illustrate this with your own experiences?experiences?

Class StruggleClass Struggle““The history of all hitherto existing The history of all hitherto existing

society is the history of class society is the history of class struggles” (p. 37). struggles” (p. 37).

Marx is the founder of what is Marx is the founder of what is known as Conflict Theory, which known as Conflict Theory, which argues that the best way to argues that the best way to understand society is to examine understand society is to examine conflicts for power and resources conflicts for power and resources within society.within society.

A Framework for Comparing Theoretical A Framework for Comparing Theoretical ApproachesApproaches

Structur-Structur-alismalism

Function-Function-alismalism

Class Class ConflictConflict

Inter-Inter-pretivepretive

Racial Racial ConflictConflict

Feminist Feminist TheoryTheory

QueerQueer Inter-Inter-sectionalsectional

Social SelfSocial Self

Focus of Focus of Explan-Explan-ationation

How How society is society is organized; organized; resources resources and schemaand schema

Purpose of Purpose of every social every social institutioninstitution

EconomicsEconomics Systems of Systems of MeaningMeaning

Racial Racial hierarchyhierarchy

GenderGender Sexuality; Sexuality; social social boundaries; boundaries; mainstreammainstream

Comb-Comb-ination of ination of race, class, race, class, gender, gender, sexuality, sexuality, etc.etc.

Social Social PsychologyPsychology

Implication Implication for Powerfor Power

NeutralNeutral Power Power important important for social for social cohesioncohesion

Ruling Ruling class, class, bourgeoisie bourgeoisie and and capitalistscapitalists

HegemonyHegemony White White supremacy; supremacy; racial racial dictatorshipdictatorship

PatriarchyPatriarchy DispersedDispersed Matrix of Matrix of DominationDomination

AgencyAgency

Key Key QuestionsQuestions

What are What are the norms, the norms, goals, and goals, and means?means?

What need What need is served by is served by institutionsinstitutions

Who rules? Who rules? How is How is strat-strat-ification ification reproduced reproduced

What are What are the beliefs the beliefs and values and values of a societyof a society

What does What does race mean? race mean? How is it How is it organizedorganized

Relative Relative positions of positions of men and men and women, women, meanings meanings of genderof gender

Who is Who is treated as treated as ‘other’? ‘other’? How do the How do the marginalizemarginalized find d find powerpower

How do How do different different hierarchies hierarchies work hand work hand in hand to in hand to oppress oppress some and some and privilege privilege othersothers

Relation-Relation-ship ship between the between the individual individual and society; and society; how do how do social exp. social exp. Create Create identityidentity

StructuralismStructuralism FunctionalismFunctionalism Class ConflictClass Conflict

Focus of Focus of ExplanationExplanation

How society is How society is organized; organized; resources and resources and schemaschema

Purpose of Purpose of every social every social institutioninstitution

EconomicsEconomics

Implication for Implication for PowerPower

NeutralNeutral Power Power important for important for social cohesionsocial cohesion

Ruling class, Ruling class, bourgeoisie bourgeoisie and capitalistsand capitalists

Key QuestionsKey Questions What are the What are the norms, goals, norms, goals, and means?and means?

What need is What need is served by served by institutionsinstitutions

Who rules? Who rules? How is How is stratification stratification reproduced? reproduced?

Class StruggleClass StruggleAccording to Marx, world history can be summarized into According to Marx, world history can be summarized into

6 epochs, 2 of which still lie in the future:6 epochs, 2 of which still lie in the future:1.1. Primitive Communism—No class divisions. People Primitive Communism—No class divisions. People

produce goods from nature and then trade them produce goods from nature and then trade them with each other.with each other.

2.2. Slavery—A small few rise to power with military Slavery—A small few rise to power with military might. They become the elite and the rest of might. They become the elite and the rest of society is treated as their slaves. society is treated as their slaves.

3.3. Feudalism—Slaves are replaced by serfs, quasi-Feudalism—Slaves are replaced by serfs, quasi-independent workers who are beholden to a lord. independent workers who are beholden to a lord.

4.4. Modern Capitalism—Serfs are replaced by laborers Modern Capitalism—Serfs are replaced by laborers in factory production (the proletariat) and lords are in factory production (the proletariat) and lords are replaced by business owners (capitalists, or the replaced by business owners (capitalists, or the bourgeoisie). bourgeoisie).

5.5. Socialism—the workers take control of society and Socialism—the workers take control of society and oppress the bourgeoisie. Factories are shared by oppress the bourgeoisie. Factories are shared by those who work in them.those who work in them.

6.6. Communism—Class distinctions are lost and both Communism—Class distinctions are lost and both production and politics are equally shared across production and politics are equally shared across society.society.

Class StruggleClass Struggle

Marx focused on 2 class groups under Marx focused on 2 class groups under capitalismcapitalism The Proletariat: the worker who is The Proletariat: the worker who is

estranged from her workestranged from her work The Bourgeoisie: the owner of the factory The Bourgeoisie: the owner of the factory

or businessor business Although a middle class was already Although a middle class was already

developing in Marx’s day, Marx developing in Marx’s day, Marx thought they would be pulled down thought they would be pulled down into the proletariat. into the proletariat.

What might Marx say about the middle What might Marx say about the middle class today?class today?

Class StruggleClass Struggle

Marx reasoned that as capitalism grew, it Marx reasoned that as capitalism grew, it would spread across the world and make would spread across the world and make for an ever-larger working class.for an ever-larger working class.

In the space of the factory floor, this In the space of the factory floor, this massive group of laborers would develop a massive group of laborers would develop a class consciousness—a sense of shared class consciousness—a sense of shared identity and a unity of purpose.identity and a unity of purpose.

He believed this class consciousness He believed this class consciousness would be radical and politically motivatingwould be radical and politically motivating

Eventually, it would lead to a revolution Eventually, it would lead to a revolution against the bourgeoisie, and capitalism against the bourgeoisie, and capitalism would be replaced with socialism.would be replaced with socialism.

PovertyPoverty

PovertyPoverty

The official poverty rate in 2008 was 13.2 The official poverty rate in 2008 was 13.2 percent, up from 12.5 percent in 2007. This percent, up from 12.5 percent in 2007. This was the first statistically significant annual was the first statistically significant annual increase in the poverty rate since 2004, increase in the poverty rate since 2004, when poverty increased to 12.7 percent when poverty increased to 12.7 percent from 12.5 percent in 2003.from 12.5 percent in 2003.

In 2008, 39.8 million people were in In 2008, 39.8 million people were in poverty, up from 37.3 million in 2007 -- the poverty, up from 37.3 million in 2007 -- the second consecutive annual increase in the second consecutive annual increase in the number of people in poverty.number of people in poverty.

PovertyPoverty

In 2008, the poverty rate increased for non-In 2008, the poverty rate increased for non-Hispanic Whites (8.6 percent in 2008 -- up Hispanic Whites (8.6 percent in 2008 -- up from 8.2 percent in 2007), Asians (11.8 from 8.2 percent in 2007), Asians (11.8 percent in 2008 -- up from 10.2 percent in percent in 2008 -- up from 10.2 percent in 2007) and Hispanics (23.2 percent in 2008 -- 2007) and Hispanics (23.2 percent in 2008 -- up from 21.5 percent in 2007). Poverty rates in up from 21.5 percent in 2007). Poverty rates in 2008 were statistically unchanged for Blacks 2008 were statistically unchanged for Blacks (24.7 percent).(24.7 percent).

The poverty rate in 2008 (13.2 percent) was The poverty rate in 2008 (13.2 percent) was the highest poverty rate since 1997 but was the highest poverty rate since 1997 but was 9.2 percentage points lower than in 1959, the 9.2 percentage points lower than in 1959, the first year for which poverty estimates are first year for which poverty estimates are available.available.

PovertyPoverty

Since 1960, the number of people below poverty has Since 1960, the number of people below poverty has not exceeded the 2008 figure of 39.8 million peoplenot exceeded the 2008 figure of 39.8 million people

The poverty rate increased for children under 18 years The poverty rate increased for children under 18 years old (19.0 percent in 2008 -- up from 18.0 percent in old (19.0 percent in 2008 -- up from 18.0 percent in 2007) and people 18 to 64 years old (11.7 percent in 2007) and people 18 to 64 years old (11.7 percent in 2008 -- up from 10.9 percent in 2007), while it remained 2008 -- up from 10.9 percent in 2007), while it remained statistically unchanged for people 65 years and over statistically unchanged for people 65 years and over (9.7 percent).(9.7 percent).

The Poverty LineThe Poverty Line This is the instrument by which poverty is identified and This is the instrument by which poverty is identified and

measuredmeasured Does not vary by region of the US, type of residency Does not vary by region of the US, type of residency

(urban, suburban, rural) or any other variable that can (urban, suburban, rural) or any other variable that can affect cost-of-livingaffect cost-of-living

Available online at:Available online at: http://www.census.gov/hhes/www/poverty/threshld/http://www.census.gov/hhes/www/poverty/threshld/

thresh08.html thresh08.html

DuBois—On Labor, Economics, DuBois—On Labor, Economics, and Politicsand Politics

Group AssignmentsGroup Assignments Each group is assigned two sectionsEach group is assigned two sections I’m going to give you a theory for the I’m going to give you a theory for the

first sectionfirst section I want you to devise a theory for the I want you to devise a theory for the

second sectionsecond section But your group is responsible for But your group is responsible for

explaining both theoriesexplaining both theories

DuBois—On Labor, Economics, DuBois—On Labor, Economics, and Politicsand Politics Group 1 (sec. 1 and 8)—1: Domestic service is a tool Group 1 (sec. 1 and 8)—1: Domestic service is a tool

of racism and race is a tool of class inequality. 8: ?of racism and race is a tool of class inequality. 8: ? Group 2 (sec. 2 and 9)—2: Social agitators are Group 2 (sec. 2 and 9)—2: Social agitators are

important agents of social change. 9: ?important agents of social change. 9: ? Group 3 (sec. 3 and 10)—3: Rules on who can vote Group 3 (sec. 3 and 10)—3: Rules on who can vote

and who can lead will always be a barrier to and who can lead will always be a barrier to democracy. 10: ?democracy. 10: ?

Group 4 (sec. 4 and 11)—4: Providing jobs and wages Group 4 (sec. 4 and 11)—4: Providing jobs and wages is no more an act of charity or service than providing is no more an act of charity or service than providing labor and goods. 11:?labor and goods. 11:?

Group 5 (sec. 5 and 12)—5: Capitalism (the modern Group 5 (sec. 5 and 12)—5: Capitalism (the modern economy) is a barrier to democracy that privileges economy) is a barrier to democracy that privileges money-making over public service, beauty and truth. money-making over public service, beauty and truth. 12:?12:?

Group 6 (sec. 6 and 13)—6: Unemployment is less a Group 6 (sec. 6 and 13)—6: Unemployment is less a result of individual failures and more a result of social result of individual failures and more a result of social structure. 13:?structure. 13:?

Group 7 (sec. 7 and 14)—7: Widely shared public Group 7 (sec. 7 and 14)—7: Widely shared public goods should be publicly owned (not private goods should be publicly owned (not private corporations). 14:?corporations). 14:?