Final answer:
Conflict theorists claim that the powerful use the law to maintain their societal status by perpetuating inequality and ensuring that resources and privileges remain in their hands.
Step-by-step explanation:
Conflict theorists argue that the powerful use the law to reinforce their place in society. This concept is rooted in the contention that societal structures, such as legal institutions, perpetuate inequality by favoring those who already have power.
The powerful use various forms of discrimination to deprive less powerful groups of their rights, as seen in the exclusion based on nationality, ethnicity, race, or religion. Within social structures like government, education, and religion, this competition reflects inherent inequalities. These institutions maintain an unequal social structure, favoring those who can obtain and retain resources.
Functionally, stratification serves to benefit the powerful at the expense of others, creating a system where business owners become rich, thereby keeping workers poor. Conflict theory suggests that this is not just an economic issue but a pervasive societal problem that includes age, gender, and race.