TEACHSOC: Re: origins of "conflict theory"

[Roberts, Keith]

A colleague asked me the following and I thought someone on the list might have the answer.   I am trying to figure out the origins of "conflict theory" as an umbrella term for radical sociologists in the 1960s. Do you know the origins of the term? And when it was used and when it ceased to be used? I would suspect the immediate the origins are a backlash against big F functionalism of the Parsons kind, but that it fell into disuse by the 1970s once Marxism, feminism, etc. became viable radical theories in the discipline. Does that sound right? And is there anything you could refer me to read about it?   Thanks, Rhonda   My recollection—speaking as one of the old fossils who was in grad school in the late 60s—was that the reference was shaped in large part by the Cold War climate, McCarthyism, and destroyed careers for anyone who accepted the label of “Marxist.”  The 1950s were a time when the country was steeped in functionalist (social harmony; consensus) thinking, and Marxism was edgy to talk about (at best).  Students would not take a professor seriously if he (and it was predominantly men in the professorate) openly called himself a Marxist.       My theory colleague—Jim Crone—pointed out that (as someone else on the list acknowledged) Dahrendorf wrote not only a book—Class and Class Conflict in Industrial Society (1959)—but a very important article in 1958—“Toward a Theory of Social Conflict” (Journal of Conflict Resolution  Vol 8: pp. 170-183).  As the superficial social harmony of the 1950s began to break up and conflict reigned in the U.S., Dahrendorf provided a term to describe Marxian analysis that was relatively safe. This allowed people to again discuss some of the issues and perspectives that had been taboo.  One could discuss these things and be taken seriously.  So part of the use of the term was rooted in the oppressive politics of the age.  Hmmm….A time of politics of fear….sound familiar?   That is my take on it, but others may have better information and insight.   Keith   *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *      Keith A. Roberts, Ph.D.     Dept of Sociology & Anthropology     Hanover College     Hanover, IN  47243       [EMAIL PROTECTED]     Office: 812/ 866-7353     --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Teaching Sociology" group. To post to this group, send email to teachsoc@googlegroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/teachsoc -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---