• Social conflict theory is a macro-oriented paradigm in sociology that views society as an arena of inequality that generates conflict and social change. Key elements in this perspective are that society is structured in ways to benefit a few at the expense of the majority, and factors such as race, sex, class, and age are linked to social inequality. To a social conflict theorist, it is all about dominant group versus minority group relations. Karl Marx is considered the ‘father’ of social conflict theory.

Conflict and Social Change

• The utilization of conflict as a tool for the actualization of groups’ goal has been a long history. This collaborates with Marx (1950) ideas that society itself has been a history of class struggle. According to Marx, each social system contains elements of strain and of potential conflict; also that this conflict leads not only to ever changing relation within the existing social structure but the total social system undergoes transformation through conflict.  Karl Marx believed history to be the story of conflict between the wealthy and working classes. Marx thought that this conflict would eventually erupt into a society-wide war or revolution. The theory has also been applied to micro level interactions. Marx noted that history proceeds in stages in which the rich always exploit the poor and weak as a class of people. Slaves in ancient Rome and the working classes of today share the same basic exploitation. Only by socialist revolution led by the proletariat (working class) will any society move into its final stage of development: a free, classless, and communist society. Marx’s view of social change is proactive; it does not rely on people remaining passive in response to exploitation or other problems in material culture. Instead, it presents tools for individuals wishing to take control and regain their freedom.
• However, this has been viewed as limiting causation of social change by the classical conflict theory of change. They posit that rather than limiting conflict to economic class, it should be expanded to social conflict in general. Acknowledging the role of economy in the causation of conflict, they also emphasize the importance of other kinds of conflict such as conflict between one country and another, between racial or ethnic group, between political parties, religious bodies and also conflict and tensions between factory management and their workers, teachers and students, government bureaucrats and general public, students and the government, human rights group and the government. These according to the classical conflict theorist are not class based but certainly produce change whenever they occur.

Social conflict as a consequence of social change

• Due to social change, various changes take place in societal structure and framework. New classes come into existence and new class relations develop. Such new forces tend to challenge old order which provides space for conflict in society.
• For example- Industrialisation and subsequent rise of capitalism and imperialism had resulted in competition for colonial possessions. Such a scenario had resulted into conflicts among colonial powers which ultimately culminated into world wars.
• The phenomenon of social conflict is closely interlinked with the phenomenon of social change, social order and social control. Social conflict is both a cause as well as a consequence of social change.  The conflict theorists insist that society can be best understood and analysed in terms of struggles and strife that occur over the control and acquisition of power, authority, wealth, prestige and other scarce and desirable resources in society.