The origin of social conflict theory

Social conflict theory is famous for taking the lead in opposing the dominant structural functionalism at that time. It emphasizes conflicts in social life and explains social changes. Its main representatives are: American L.A. Kausel, L.Collins, German R.dahrendorf, British J.Lex, etc.

Causeur first used the term "conflict theory" in The Role of Social Conflict (1956). He opposed Parsons' one-sided view that conflicts only have destructive effects, and tried to combine the structural-functional analysis method with the social conflict analysis model to revise and supplement Parsons' theory. Dahrendorf believes that social reality has two faces, one is stability, harmony and knowledge, and the other is change, conflict and compulsion. Sociology needs not only a harmonious social model, but also a conflicting social model. Therefore, sociology must step out of the balanced and harmonious Utopia constructed by Parsons and establish a theory of universal conflict. On the other hand, starting from the basic standpoint of Marxism, Lex opposes Parsons' order theory of value norms, and emphasizes that the distribution of material means of life should take precedence over the construction of social model. In Key Issues in Sociological Theory (196 1), Lex vividly described "the situation in the ruling stage". From 65438 to 0975, Collins' Sociology of Conflict: Towards an Explanatory Science was published, which marked a new stage of conflict research. Early conflict theorists only supplemented and revised structural functionalism, and thought that order theory and conflict theory were both useful theoretical tools. Collins believes that social conflict is the central process of social life, and it is not enough to put forward a supplementary "conflict theory" to explain this process. It is necessary to establish a sociology with the theme of conflict.