Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
Conflict theory is a framework in sociology that emphasizes the role of coercion and power in producing social order. It suggests that society is in a state of perpetual conflict due to competition for limited resources.
Related terms
Social inequality: The uneven distribution of resources and privileges among participants in a group or culture.
Power dynamics: The way in which power is distributed and the effects that power differences can have on relationships and interactions within a society.
Class struggle: The tension or antagonism which exists in society due to competing socioeconomic interests and desires between people of different classes