Chapter - Social Conflict Theory Flashcards
What are the Social Context of conflict theory?
o 1960s protest and riots
o Viet Nam war
o Distrust of government
o Watergate: fall of President Nixon
The Conflict Continuum of Social Groups
- conflict theories can be placed on a scale representing the number of social groups
- varying in size and length of time in conflict
The Basic Principles of Conflict Theory
- Law is a resource for the powerful
- Type of control that can be used:
o coercion and physical force
o Legal processes and images
What are 2 different forms of conflict theory?
- Pluralist conflict
- Many groups work together to exert power for brief moments
–> ex; legalization of marijuana, berenburg group - Radical Marxist conflict
- 2 major classes have conflict of interests
- proletariat (everyone else) and bourgeoisie (owners)
Who are the major theorist in Social Conflict
George Vold - theoretical criminology
Steven Spitzers - Problem Populations
Karl Marx - social conflict
What did marxist’s false consciousness say about radical conflict?
focus on the myth that law/social order is in the best interest of all
What are Capitalist Economic Theories?
- industrial societies create crime
- Necessary to suppress/oppress poor
What are Spitzers Problem Groups?
- Social junk – less expensive, low threat
o Those who… - Refuse to work
- Retreat to drugs
- Refuse schooling
- Don’t believe in the benefits of family life
- Social dynamite – expensive, high threat
o The poor stealing from the rich
o Activist who propose a non-capitalist society
What is social conflict theory?
- sensitizing theory
- focuses on economic and class
- relationship between power and crime
What is the Intellectual Context of Conflict theory?
o classical school concerns
o Labelling paved the way for conflict theories
o Marxist thought in sociology
