The Conflict Theorist
While an order theorist desires slow and steady social change—filling the metaphoric pail of society with a consistent flow of water so as not to disturb social order—a conflict theorist desires the opposite. They would likely want to fill the pail with a fire hydrant, spraying everyone and shocking society into radical change. Any social change that is less than revolutionary will not suffice, in the opinions of conflict theorists like Marx (Marx, Mandel & Fowkes, 1976).
Origins of the “Bad Times”
A conflict theorist might conclude that the “bad times” surrounding the Great Depression were inevitable. Made clear from his earlier work, Marx predicted a tumultuous time like the Great Depression with a three-stage cycle …show more content…
Conflict theorists view laissez-faire capitalism as a broken system prioritizing the monetary value of a commodity over the utility value of that commodity to human well-being (class lecture, 2015; Russell, 2014). In a more specific sense, the seemingly inhumane prioritization of goods over people strengthens as the wealthy increase their economic power. The vicious cycle of capitalism can best understood by simplifying its individual parts. To begin, the prerogative of workers is to maximize wages and minimize the work week. Capitalists counteract this prerogative by reducing the cost of production, employing technological advances of the times and outsourcing labor to workers who will accept low wages. These actions, in effect, remove power from the working class. The “threat” of mechanization and outsourcing ultimately results in workers accepting unfair wages (Marx et al., 1976). This relationship that cannot be supported, as unfair labor conditions destroy purchasing power of workers, which in turn results in the inability of workers to purchase commodities. Accordingly, “let it be” capitalism falters from its very nature and the absence of regulations, resulting in commodities controlling people (Marx et al.,
While an order theorist desires slow and steady social change—filling the metaphoric pail of society with a consistent flow of water so as not to disturb social order—a conflict theorist desires the opposite. They would likely want to fill the pail with a fire hydrant, spraying everyone and shocking society into radical change. Any social change that is less than revolutionary will not suffice, in the opinions of conflict theorists like Marx (Marx, Mandel & Fowkes, 1976).
Origins of the “Bad Times”
A conflict theorist might conclude that the “bad times” surrounding the Great Depression were inevitable. Made clear from his earlier work, Marx predicted a tumultuous time like the Great Depression with a three-stage cycle …show more content…
Conflict theorists view laissez-faire capitalism as a broken system prioritizing the monetary value of a commodity over the utility value of that commodity to human well-being (class lecture, 2015; Russell, 2014). In a more specific sense, the seemingly inhumane prioritization of goods over people strengthens as the wealthy increase their economic power. The vicious cycle of capitalism can best understood by simplifying its individual parts. To begin, the prerogative of workers is to maximize wages and minimize the work week. Capitalists counteract this prerogative by reducing the cost of production, employing technological advances of the times and outsourcing labor to workers who will accept low wages. These actions, in effect, remove power from the working class. The “threat” of mechanization and outsourcing ultimately results in workers accepting unfair wages (Marx et al., 1976). This relationship that cannot be supported, as unfair labor conditions destroy purchasing power of workers, which in turn results in the inability of workers to purchase commodities. Accordingly, “let it be” capitalism falters from its very nature and the absence of regulations, resulting in commodities controlling people (Marx et al.,