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Reconstructing The Micro Basis Of Social Conflict Theory

Posted on:2017-02-15Degree:DoctorType:Dissertation
Country:ChinaCandidate:Z M WangFull Text:PDF
GTID:1227330485468521Subject:Sociology
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Analytical Marxism is one of the new branches in Western Marxism which contains abundant thoughts of social conflict. This article by systematically summarizing the social conflict theory of main Analytical Marxism researchers, reconstructs micro basis of social conflict theory:This reconstruction contains four main aspacts of social conflict. For the first, how does a social structure formulate in a conflict way, which is that what is the structure resource of social conflict. The second, how does a conflict group form, which means to study consciousness of conflict groups. The third, research on conflict action is the most significant aspect of conflict theory, this is about how a group consciousness or a class consciousness transfer to collective action or group action. The last aspect is analysis of social conflict result.According the four main aspects, most members of Analytical Marxism, such as E. O. Wright, J. Roemer, J. Elster and A. Przeworski, proposed detail of the micro conflict action theory following individual logical action. These detail theory give more explanatory power of social conflict theory and Marx’s class struggle theory in modern society.This study starts with social conflit theory of western sociology. Marx has make a groundbreaking contribution for sociological conflict theory. M. Weber and G. Simmel have developed the theory system by making revision of Marx’s theory. They provide macro and micro research tradition. Modern sociology focuses on social structure leading to social conflict, but it didn’t provide micro-fundamental explanation. Social movement theory focus too much on conflict group, the experts of this theme could explain mobilization and operation in some kind conflict, ignoring internal antagonistic relation of society. Considering Analytical Marxism developed from Western Marxism tradition, conflict theory of Western Marxism should been pay close attention. They have make deep discussion on some key concept in conflict theory, such as class consciousness, ideology, hegemony, state apparatus. Analytical Marxism get a lot thought resources from those concepts. Although Analytical Marxism create an elaborate theory of class conflict with abundant detail explanations, based on Marx’s theory, they change too much on core factor of Marxism. They provide a kind of "weak" class conflict theory.The present paper believed following points:(1) conflict theory in western sociology mainly proposed macro explanatory framework of conflicting structure and micro descriptive theory of non-rationality conflict behavior, but micro theory cannot makes theoretical relation with macro framework. Western Marxism pay most attention to totalized confront relationship, but they ignore specific actor. So that Analytical Marxism develop its micro conflict theory from analyzing conflicting actor and anction. (2) Multiple exploitation relationships build on actor’s multiple resourse occupation in product system. Most actors are standing on the contradictory position between multiple exploitation relationships. As a result, one actor could have paradoxical motive. In modern society, certain conflict structure is made up by more than one kind contradiction. (3) Social groups organized by exploitation relationship are tied up together by product system, so their relationship is internal relationship, which is interdependent and opposite. Actors in conflict group most. belong to "middle class in contradiction position". They make decision revolve around material interests. (4) Actors in certain class get class consciousness base on common material interests. For the contradiction position, there are continuous existence between spontaneous class consciousness and maturity class consciousness which called "negative class consciousness". This concept equals to interest group’s awareness or conciousness. This is a kind of territorial or partly class consciousness. (5) "negative class consciousness" affect greatly the action of group members. This consciousness include three main dimensions:reorganization about reality; inference on the development of social-economic situation; the balance of risk and return. Under the influence of group consciousness, actor makes decision to struggle against another group, or to make alliance with another group, or to come to a compromise. (6) group awareness or class consciousness could develop or decline during the practice. Actors gain more power if they associate with each other in more tight forms. Actors have more associated power when their group consciousness get more mature. At same time, "free rider" in group conflict action will have to face to more tough sanctions. From the view of whole collective action game, actor may get higher returns and lower cost. (7) Conflict group with mature group consciousness have more chance to make compromise to each other, For they focus more on the future interests of group. While group consciousness grows, group conflict transforms from prisoner’s game to cooperative game. In modern capitalist country, long term class compromise creates new kinds of state system and political institution and economic policy. (8) Class compromise cannot change the essence of class antagonisms. Analytical Marxism’ conflict theory cannot replace Marx’s class struggle theory. However, class by Analytical Marxism’s can be used to explain conflict between interest groups.Based on Analytical Marxism’social conflict theory, this paper constructs a formal micro explanation system of social conflict. It conclude four topic groups (16 propositions). In brief, social conflict is a result of actor game, Meanwhile, it is a group action game itself. All kinds of social contradiction relationship entangle in social conflict structure, which is basic situation of the game. Social conflict decides by the interests, personal preference, the opptunities of group formation, the structure inside group, and also group power. To reform the system of social governance in China, is to adjust the combination of productive opposition and non-productive opposition. In the mean time, society must foster mature interests group consciousness, and create institution environment for conflict compromise.
Keywords/Search Tags:Social Conflict, Analytical Marxism, collective action, Group Consciousness, conflict Compromise
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