Theories and Methods- Consensus vs Conflict

  • Consensus- an agreement on the shared norms and values of society.

  • Conflict- conflict in society between two or more competing parties over access to power and resources.

Similarities

  • Structural theories- society shapes individual’s behaviours- structure of society is more important than the wishes and wants of individuals. MACRO.

  • Social institutions have a key role in socialising people into norms and values of society. E.g. education.

  • Individuals are subjected to formal and informal control through different social institutions. E.g. socialisation.

  • Social processes, such as socialisation are responsible for the behaviour of individuals.

Differences

  • While they agree that social institutions act as socialising agents, they suggest different reason for this occurring.

  • Functionalists see this as beneficial to all in society. E.g. socialisation enable society to function correctly.

  • Marxists see it as beneficial to the ruling class. E.g. ruling class norms and values that we are learning.

  • Feminists see it as beneficial in maintaining patriarchy. E.g. norms and values reflect best interest for males.

  • Consensus theories suggest that society is meritocratic and those with the right attributes dictate what norms and values are.

  • Conflict theories suggests power is the key factor in setting norms and values. Myth of meritocracy.

Consensus v Conflict in education

  • Consensus- Teaching specialist skills for economic and individual progression- e.g. apprenticeships

  • social solidarity e.g. history and Magna Carta

  • socialising into norms and values e.g. British Values and informal curriculum.

  • Conflict theories- teaching skills required for work or specific gender roles- can be seen as outdated as girls are achieving more than boys in education and in male dominated jobs due to GIST and WISE.

  • Hegemonic and patriarchal ideals

  • Socialised into gendered norms and values or being taught to reject own culture- Archer and identities.

  • Differences in achievement between those on FSM and not on FSM.

Consensus in contemporary society

  • Durkheim’s concept of boundary maintenance- re-affirming social norms and values evident after sensational crimes.

  • Social solidarity- consistently reinforced through educational policies- e.g. changes to curriculum, PREVENT and British Values.

  • Dominance of middle-class attitudes to key social issues through the media and other institutions- e.g. economic crisis and COVD.

Conflict in contemporary society

  • Inequality in society- 14 million people in UK below poverty line according to Rowntree Foundation. Marxists view of growing proletariat is can be seen as true.

  • Inequality in wages- 8.9% gender gap according to UK Government in 2019; lack of equality in senior positions and parliament. E.g. #metoo movement.

  • Racial inequality- stop and search, disproportionately represented in crime, unemployment, health statistics, unrepresented in media for MEGs.

Which is most useful for contemporary society?

  • Conflict theories have more relevance in the UK today- theories such as Marxism and Feminism continue to influence sociological thinking in 21st Century.

  • Consensus theories such as Functionalism can be seen as outdated, yet political ideologies such as New Right see consensus as an ideal and try to maintain certain social institutions as pillars of morality.

  • Recent attitudes to social issues in the UK would suggest a greater polarisation of opinions, suggesting conflict theories might be better placed to examine social attitudes than consensus ones. E.g. diminishing of welfare state, discrimination against immigrants, Brexit, and social distancing under COVID regulations.