Abstract This paper looks at classical theorists such as Karl Marx and Max Weber, as well as modern theorists such as Ralph Dahrendorf, Lewis Coser, Randall Collins and Immanuel Wallerstein. The different views they have of conflict theory are then be applied to the war in Iraq. Once an understanding of conflict theory is established based on how these particular theorists choose to view it, a comparison and contrast of the beliefs that they hold is discussed as well.
From the Paper "Classical theorists include Karl Marx and Max Weber. Karl Marx is basically the father of conflict theory, and many of the conflict and other social theories around today came from his beliefs and opinions. Marx believed in a materialist view of history, and saw the most important part of a social life as being the work that individuals were doing. This was especially true of work that resulted in the basic necessities such as shelter, clothing, and food. The value of society therefore resulted from human labor, and everything that men and women were doing to create society and shape it actually created the conditions for their very own existence (McClelland, 2000)."
Abstract In this article, the writer concentrates research efforts on whether there are specific theorists and theories that could be applied to the current Iraq war and perhaps help others to understand it better. The writer first looks at the issue from the point of view that there are theorists, both classical and modern, who have strong views on war. The writer explains that this is largely due to conflict theory, which is that life is largely characterized more by conflict than it is by consensus. Those who uphold this theory have different ways of looking at it and the purpose of this paper is to look at classical theorists such as Karl Marx and Max Weber, as well as modern theorists such as Ralph Dahrendorf and Lewis Coser. The different views they have of conflict theory is then applied to the war in Iraq.
From the Paper "The United States went to work in Iraq to try to remove Hussein from power, but also to help the Iraqi people understand that this type of treatment is not necessary. There may be people in the United States that are treated this way, but in general the government does not treat the United States citizens in anything like the way Hussein treated his people. Most of the people in Iraq were too afraid to rise up against Hussein, for fear of terrible punishment. Because of this, the United States troops could not get a great deal of help at first, but as the war went on and it began to look as though the United States would win, the Iraqi citizens begin to offer a helping hand. They were beginning to realize that they were finally actually going to be free."
"Another conflict theorist, Max Weber, did not go along with the theories of Karl Marx. He believed that there was more than just a ruling class and a normal class of people. Instead of two classes, he believed that there were four, and that they were determined by power, social status, and class."
