Conflict/Critical Theories

Conflict theory

Society is held together through conflict and coercion with economy as the driving factor

Forces exist to keep people in line

Ex) police, prison, courts

Ralf Dahrendorf - Position of Authority

Power resides in institutions that enforce compliance rather than one individual

Ralf Dahrendorf - Conflict groups

Formation of groups with opposing beliefs of the ruling power that are the catalysts for social change

Critical Theory

Society is held together by conflict and coercion with culture as the driving factor

Culture shapes our economy

Max Weber - Culture industry

Social structure which controls social life like products or lifestyle

Max Weber - Mass culture

Results of shared set of values by a society based on the same cultural media

Max Weber - Repressiveness

How mass culture’s falseness (fake realities) serves to main the status quo

Critical Theory - Mass culture

Pacifies individuals through false narratives which serve capitalism

Ex) Tired? By a product!!