Coser and Dahrendorf Conflict Theories

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Institution

According to Lewis Coser’s conflict theory, conflicts are instinctual for humans and are, therefore, found in all societies. In addition to war conflicts, there are conflicts related to relationships and everyday lives. Nevertheless, Coser asserts that human conflicts are often goal-oriented as they are ways for goal attainment (Channa, 2020). Conflicts, therefore, entail the existence of the probability of different ways that open up the chances for negotiations. Unlike other conflict theories, Coser’s theory brings together the conflict theory and structural functionalism, and is mainly focused on discovering the social conflict’s functions. Given that Coser has perceived conflict as a functional and normal aspects of the human life, he has effectively talked about its variations, including the functional consequences and violence levels (Szczecińska-Musielak, 2016). In this regard, within the society, a conflict serves the purpose of solidifying groups that are loosely structured, given that in such societies, conflict may functions to restore the vital integrative core. Moreover, in addition to serving the communication function, conflicts also generate cohesion through promotion of alliances with different groups.

Consequently, unlike Corser’s social conflict, Dahrendorf’s conflict theory has focused on class conflict. In this regard, Dahrendorf proposed a class conflict model in which the authority forms the generic type of domination, along with a sturdy systematic perception of the society and its class relationship structures (Szczecińska-Musielak, 2016). Still, Dahrendorf asserts that conflict often take place between groups consisting of individuals with authority and those without. In this regard, in Dahrendorf’s conflict theory, the society is perceived as consisting of individuals of different classes based on their level of authority. However, conflicts are seen to only occur as a result of differences between individuals with authority and those who lack such authority in the society (Channa, 2020). As a result, Dahrendorf has contended that the various classes can be found within the professional groups and the other groups with which members of the society are affiliated, given that class definition occurs based on authority an individual wields.

References

Channa, S. (2020). Unit-4 Conflict perspective. Indira Gandhi National Open University, New Delhi.

Szczecińska-Musielak, E. (2016). Social conflict theory in studying the conflict in Northern Ireland. Polish Sociological Review, 193(1), 119-136.