Week 12 - Social Conflict Theory

Question 1

What is Social Conflict Theory?

Answer 1

It is a sensitizing theory

Focuses on economic and class

Relationship between Power & Crime

Question 2

What are the Social Contexts of social conflict theory?

Answer 2

Civil Rights (protests)

Viet war

Distrust of government

Watergate: Fall of President Nixon

Question 3

What are the intellectual Contexts of social conflict theory?

Answer 3

Classical school concerns

Labelling - Prepared the way for conflict theories

Marxist thought in sociology

Question 4

What is the conflict continuum of social groups?

Answer 4

Conflict theories can be placed on a scale representing the number of social groups

The groups can vary in size and length of time

Question 5

What are the basic principles of social conflict theory?

Answer 5

Law is a resource to the powerful (can manipulate their advantage)

Types of control that can be used:
- Coercion & Physical force
- Legal processes and legal images

Question 6

What are two different forms of conflict?

Answer 6

1. Pluralist Conflict
   - Groups work together for brief moments to exert power
2. Radical, Marxist Conflict
   - 2 major classes Proletarians (everyone else) and Bourgeoises (Owners) have a conflict of interest

Question 7

What did Marxist’s false consciouness say about radical conflict?

Answer 7

Focus on myth that law/social order is in the best interest of all

Question 8

What are capitalist economic theories?

Answer 8

Industrial societies create crime

necessary to suppress/oppress the working poor

Question 9

What are Spitzers 2 threats of surplus groups?

Answer 9

1. Social Junk
   - Those who refuse to work
   - Those who retreat to drugs
   - Those who refuse to school
   - Those who don’t believe in the benefits of family life
   (Homeless)
2. Social Dynamite
   - The poor stealing from the rich
   - Activists who propose a non-capitalist society (Robinhood) (Protesters)

Question 10

Who made the social conflict theory?

Answer 10

Karl Marxist