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Conflict Theory
The sociological theory known as Conflict Theory is characterized as one of deviance. In simple terms, it is the idea that "Life is characterized by conflict rather than consensus" (Hamlin, 2004). It is, perhaps some would argue, the state of the world today, both globally, and locally -- at least in the collective imagination of the "oppressed" masses.
In truth, there is much in support of the idea that the "current state of affairs" in America is highly concurrent with the idea of Conflict Theory. After all, the central idea around which the theory is based includes a context in which "Norms and values are not equally distributed or accepted among members of society," and that "norms and values are not randomly distributed" (Hamlin). Of course, one of the most common examples of this state in American Society is the "Black vs. White" conflict characterized by the Los Angeles "race riots" of 1992.
One has but to consider William Bonger's (1930-1940) interpretation of the theory that Crime is social in origin and is marked by issues of "control and punishment" (Keel, 2003). Further, it is a product...
However, another factor of the theory is also involved, namely that the "law serves the haves" (Keel), and that the definition of "crime," in American society is that (with regard to Black society) it is "equated with harm or thereat of harm to the powerful"(Keel) -- and that "control and punishment" is an issue of social inequality between the two groups.
Of course, the strongest indication of the relationship of the Riots to Conflict Theory is sheer numbers of those arrested in its midst, for in the aftermath, it was concluded that 12,000 rioters were arrested (USC, 2000). Not only does this indicate a definite separation of the incident from simple ideas of "random crime," but it indicates a real existence of the division…
Works Cited
Hamlin, John. "Conflict Theory." 2003. Retrieved from Web Site on July 31, 2004. http://www.d.umn.edu/~jhamlin1/conflict.html
Keel, Robert O. "Conflict Theories." 2003. Retrieved From Web Site on July 31, 2004. http://www.umsl.edu/~rkeel/200/conflict.html
USC. University of Southern California. "The Los Angeles Riot, 1992" 1995. Retrieved from Web Site on July 31, 2004. http://www.usc.edu/isd/archives/la/la_riot.html
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