Unemployment is a societal phenomenon that can adversely affect the functioning of a society economically, socially as well as having an affect on the individual and their role in society as a whole. In Australia, this social problem is ongoing and using sociological theories we can explain this. This essay will examine 3 things: The definition of unemployment and the impact it has on modern Australia, the sociological theory of conflict, and how this theory can be applied to unemployment. It will conclude that unemployment is a social problem that is simple enough to define, but hard to pinpoint the causes through the sociological examination of Conflict theory.
The Oxford Sociology dictionary defines unemployment as: ‘The state of being …show more content…
His ideologies were based on a lifetime’s research on the specifics of the economy (Bottomore, 1964). The economic basis of conflict theory helps in the understanding of unemployment as it is sometimes interpreted as an economic problem as well as a social issue. Most of his work focused on the tension between the two groups and the inevitable social revolution that would occur as a result of capitalism. Conflict Theory moves away from the idea of a revolution but focuses more on the struggle of the suppressed class against the oppressors. Conflict Theory has led to many other branches including: Critical Theory and Feminist Theories amongst …show more content…
Being a macro-level theory, conflict theory, just like economics sees the two groups as a whole, there are no individuals, and the groups are based on the average representations also known as macro primacy (Kemper & Convention, 1990). But unlike economics, conflict theory looks at the patterns and trends and identifies the possible outcomes of the clashes and seeks to resolve it before it happens. According to Marx when a capitalist economy grows rapidly there will be an decrease in unemployment rates, which will shift the power to the workers as they will have increased power in society and will use that to change wages. This will affect the bourgeoisie, who will reduce spending on investments, which will lead to a decline in job creation, higher unemployment, and the repeat of the cycle as more people lose their jobs. (Marx & Engels,
The Oxford Sociology dictionary defines unemployment as: ‘The state of being …show more content…
His ideologies were based on a lifetime’s research on the specifics of the economy (Bottomore, 1964). The economic basis of conflict theory helps in the understanding of unemployment as it is sometimes interpreted as an economic problem as well as a social issue. Most of his work focused on the tension between the two groups and the inevitable social revolution that would occur as a result of capitalism. Conflict Theory moves away from the idea of a revolution but focuses more on the struggle of the suppressed class against the oppressors. Conflict Theory has led to many other branches including: Critical Theory and Feminist Theories amongst …show more content…
Being a macro-level theory, conflict theory, just like economics sees the two groups as a whole, there are no individuals, and the groups are based on the average representations also known as macro primacy (Kemper & Convention, 1990). But unlike economics, conflict theory looks at the patterns and trends and identifies the possible outcomes of the clashes and seeks to resolve it before it happens. According to Marx when a capitalist economy grows rapidly there will be an decrease in unemployment rates, which will shift the power to the workers as they will have increased power in society and will use that to change wages. This will affect the bourgeoisie, who will reduce spending on investments, which will lead to a decline in job creation, higher unemployment, and the repeat of the cycle as more people lose their jobs. (Marx & Engels,