Beyond Parsons? A Critique of Ralf Dahrendorf's Conflict Theory

Dahrendorf attempts to synthesize the Marxian concepts of class, class interests, and class conflict on the one hand and the methodology and the concepts of the modern theory of action, on the other, in his analysis of social conflict and change. In this, authority appears as the focus of social conflicts and plays a dual role in social structures, as both an integrative force and a source of conflict. In each social structure (“imperatively coordinated association”) there are two classes, rulers and ruled, whose conflicting interests are defined in terms of role-expectations. In trying to account theoretically for the occurrence—in the same social structure—of both obedience and conflict, Dahrendorf is forced to resort to a voluntaristic explanation of conflict and change. Likewise Dahrendorf cannot fulfill his promise to provide a concept of change which transcends given structures, in the Marxian sense. His explanation of change turns out to be identical with that of social mobility. The synthes is between Marx and Parsons fails

Action (physics) · Class (philosophy) · Class conflict · Conflict resolution · Conflict theories · Dual (grammatical number) · Economics · Epistemology · Focus (optics) · Law and economics · Obedience · Political science · Politics · Positive economics · Social conflict · Social science · Sociology · Critical Theory and Philosophy · Law · Philosophy · Political Economy and Marxism · Psychoanalysis, Philosophy, and Politics · Psychology · Social Psychology

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