Conflict theory has the basic assumption that differences in interests between social classes create social relations that are conflictual. The root of conflict in society is the unequal distribution of power and wealth which creates social class disparities . Power includes access to resources. The level of power of individuals or groups varies. This difference is called the gap. The bigger the gap, the greater the potential for social conflict. Inequality is determined not only by class differences, but also by race, gender, culture, taste, religion, and so on.
The theory of conflict was initiated by Karl Marx in his study of class conflict between the bourgeoisie and the proletariat. The bourgeoisie as the group that owns the factors of production has control over resources. The proletariat is a group of working class which has no control over resources. This distinction of social class into two extreme groups appears in the context of industrialization in Western Europe. Karl Marx made a theory that describes the existence of minority groups but has power over resources and the majority group is oppressed because they do not have power over resources. Each class has conflicting interests. The bourgeoisie wants to maintain its power and accumulate wealth, while the proletariat wants power and wealth to be distributed evenly.
This social order which takes the form of inequality is ideologically defended by the bourgeoisie through the creation of agreements or consensus. The consensus is in the form of values, hopes and conditions determined by the bourgeoisie. For example, a worker must work hard and be loyal to his boss in order to be successful. Loyalty and hard work are values that are agreed upon or consensus. The production of such agreements takes place at the ‘supratructure’ level or at the ideological level, according to Karl Marx. Marx thought that the socio-economic conditions created on the basis of this consensus were detrimental to the proletariat. As a result, there will be a class consciousness among the proletariat that they are exploited. Instead, the power of the capitalist bourgeoisie is sucked in. This class consciousness will trigger a revolution.
The basis for the conflict theory that was initiated by Marx has evolved over time. Some intellectuals see Karl Marx’s conflict theory as not only operating on a purely economic but also cultural structure. Antonio Gramsci saw the occurrence of cultural hegemony carried out by the ruling minority. Intellectuals from The Frankfurt School such as Max Horkheimer and Theodor Adorno saw how mass culture contributes to the creation and survival of cultural hegemony. Mass culture, according to him, is produced by capitalists to reduce the consciousness of the majority class so that there is no resistance. Through culture, society is designed to be a consumption society that benefits the capitalists economically.
Conflict theory has inspired many grassroots social movements to fight in various aspects, one of which is feminism. The feminist movement is inspired by conflict theory to see that gender and sexual relations are actually exploitative relationships. The early emergence of feminism, for example, saw men as the dominant class that exploited women through ideological forces and values that domestic is the domain of women and the public is the domain of men. Early feminism saw domestification as a restriction on the freedom to which every individual is entitled. Apart from feminism, other movements inspired by conflict theory include the theory of postcolonialism, the theory of world systems, the theory of poststructuralism, and so on.
