Q. “Social conflict is both a cause and a consequence of social change. “Explain. (2016) (250 words)
MODEL ANSWER
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. Let’s examine this perspective deeper and take a look at a few key definitions.
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.He stated that “social change is not a smooth, orderly progression which gradually unfolds in harmonious evolution. Instead, it proceeds from contradictions built into society which are a source of tension and ultimately the source of open conflict and radical change.” Beginning from the post independence era and understanding how conflict rears social change in the society remains important. Conflict itself has been defined as some form of friction, disagreement, or discord arising within a group when the beliefs or actions of one or more members of the group are either resisted by or un acceptable to one or more members of another group.
In years past after Nigerians independence, there have been series of change occurring resulting from conflict from one military regime to another as well as one political group to the other.Different coups have been plotted, executed and were successful due to conflict ingideologies and or feelings of suppression of a group by another. These coups ended up altering or restructuring social structures at these occasions. It is clear to state that most changes take place abruptly like those above, however, Igbo, pointed that transformations of social systems do not always consist in an abrupt and simultaneous change of all basic institutions. Institutions may change gradually, by mutual adjustment, and it is only over a period of time that the observer will be able to claim that the social system has undergone a basic transformation in its structural relations.)
According to Coser, no group can be entirely harmonious, for then it would lack process and structure. Group formation is a result of both association and dissociation, so that both conflict and cooperation serve a social function. Also, Sorel cited in coser states that conflict prevents the ossification of the social system by exerting pressure for innovation and creativity. It can also originate from past rivalries and personality differences. Other causes of conflict include trying to negotiate before the timing is right or before needed information is available. Dewey cited in Coser said “Conflict is the gadfly of thought. It stirs us to observation and memory. It instigates to invention. It shocks us out of sheep-like passivity, and sets us at noting and contriving…. Conflict is a sine qua non of reflection and ingenuity This largely reveals how conflict ushers in change both in ideas and structures.
Not only does conflict generates norms and institutions, it stimulates directly the economicand technological realm. This collaborates with Mukherji’s structural transformant change which happens as a result of replacement of existing structures by alternative structures. 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. This relates tothe feudal period where relations between the serf and the lord underwent different changes but until a final breakdown of all feudal relations through conflict and an establishment of anew social system with a different pattern of relation. A related example of this change from conflict dates back from the post-independence era where there were series of change from civilian regimes to military regimes and one military regime to another. These changes which were occasioned by series and different individuals at different instances through coup dethatching and re-establishing new social orders of the day. To succinctly buttress the above, the conflict theory comes in handy as its attempts to explain social conflict through the idea that all participants in a group or society attempt to maximize their personal benefits and are therefore at odds with all other members of the population. This view stems from the Hobbesian idea that men are naturally selfish and in a constant state of war with one another.
The idea was later elaborated on by Karl Marx who 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 conflictand 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. For instance, the issue of Niger Delta region has witness and experience social changes recently both in infrastructure and social structures. This change was only through conflict that had hitherto existed within that region. Also to point was political crises in Kwando Local Government Area of Benue State in 2003 where through conflict; there was a change in the political governance of the area through conflict with the use of guns, a change that was possible only through innocent bloodshed and lose of properties. Worthy to note here also is the social change that was created resulting from the TIV/Fulani crises in Benue State. This kind of change relates to Shankar Rao view of social change which is a change in interaction and interrelations. Not just so, the conflict created different changes within the social structure but also created food scarcity and economic failure.
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.