Ethnic Conflict Theory

Ethnic conflict theory points to totally new horizons of thought and thus completely new approaches to the study of American ethnicity. This theory can be put into words through two different schools of thoughts; however, the basis in either of these two is the same and that is competition between ethnic groups.

How this competition emerges is a whole different process which is described by theorists to have shaped through a long time. According to ethnic conflict theory, struggle, competition, and consequently stratification are not recent phenomena. “They occurred between indigenous and immigrant people over land, and they continue today among ethnic groups in the labor market and other routs to the good life.” (Hraba, 1979:93)

One of the two schools through which conflict theory can be employed is Karl Marx’ conflict theory that says along with the social alteration two bipolar cliques are to come into being: one which holds the economic power due to its abundant ways of access to natural resources, and production on the other end. Others are the ones who are being exploited by the formerly mentioned powerful group. This process, according to Marx, which includes class and class struggle will end up in oppression and social consciousness of the oppressed. Because of this consciousness people will fuse into one of these economic classes to shape their ethnic groups.

The other school of thought applicable to our subject surely is Max Weber’s tradition. Weber believes that would be regarded as simple mindedness to reduce an issue as complicated as this to a mere economic explanation. Therefore, he suggests three dimensions to social stratification which are class, power, and status. People from different classes in a complex society enjoy vis-à-vis different social opportunities. Social power, the other dimension, can be reached by political party affiliation, identification, participation, and activity. Status which has strong associations with the concept of honor creates boundaries between honorable ones and those who lack it. That being illustrated, the theorists of this tradition believe ethnic competition, conflict, and stratification are recurring, inevitable facts among all these dimensions.

Refferences:

Hraba J., (1979), American Ethnicity, Itasca: F.E.Paecock Publishers Inc.