The Application of Conflict Theory to Daily Life Essay

billion people on the planet, social and political conflicts are inevitable. No two people are alike, even when they are from the same family, let alone from the same ethnic, religious, cultural, or national backgrounds. Conflict theory is one of the most salient theories in the social sciences, because it brings together elements of sociology and psychology, and can be applied to almost every practical area of research including economics and criminology. Conflict theory originally evolved from the sociological theories of Karl Marx, who investigated the ways conflict between different social classes in any given society can lead to problems like alienation and disenfranchisement (Turner, 1975). Alienation and disenfranchisement in turn create the potential for deviant behavior and criminality, which is why it is important to understand conflict theory and how it impacts our daily lives. Conflict theory also illustrates the ways power structures and social institutions perpetuate themselves. For example, dominant groups create and maintain social norms and laws (Quinney, 2000). The "conduct norms" of less powerful groups often come into conflict with dominant culture norms, leading to the production of deviant or criminal definitions surrounding the everyday behavior of the individual members of these less powerful groups (Keel, 2008). For example, wearing a head scarf is considered normative in Muslim cultures but not in non-Muslim cultures. If dominant groups continue to create and maintain social norms and the laws that extend from those norms, minority and subordinate groups lack the opportunity or wherewithal to create meaningful change. Subordinate groups experience frustration from the inability to achieve upward social mobility or gain power in society, leading to intergroup conflict, miscommunication, and often to criminal behavior. Although modern democratic societies do their best to minimize social conflict through such things as welfare programs, affirmative action programs, and diversity training, an increasingly heterogeneous world makes conflict practically inevitable.

What I have learned about conflict theory can easily be applied to the issues that impact my daily life, including the current events I encounter in the media each day. The current presidential race illustrates the diverse ways Americans perceive and address conflict. All the candidates acknowledge that social conflict remains a problem in the United States, but have different solutions to the problem. For example, Bernie Sanders advocates socialist systems to reduce class conflict in society. Most of the other candidates would prefer to rely on the free market system to enable social conflict to emerge, while still providing the means by which disadvantaged individuals and groups can empower themselves. Learning about conflict theory has helped me to better understand the candidates' positions, and better understand the differences between their assumptions, values, and goals. I have watched the political debates with a more intelligent and critical eye now that I see that politicians continually deal with issues that are directly…