Final answer:
Conflict theory views society as a competition for limited resources, where social structures, largely influenced by Karl Marx's ideas, perpetuate inequality and strife between different groups. This perspective highlights the power struggles inherent in social institutions and the ongoing conflicts that arise from inequalities.
Step-by-step explanation:
Conflict Theory in Social Studies:
Conflict theory is the theoretical perspective that views the social world as characterized by continual struggle between competing groups for power and scarce resources. This macro-level approach is closely associated with the ideas of the German philosopher and sociologist Karl Marx. Marx and other theorists asserted that society is structured in ways that benefit the powerful at the expense of the less powerful, leading to inherent inequalities in social institutions such as government, education, and religion.
This perspective holds that conflict arises as different social classes compete for material and political resources like food, housing, employment, and education. In a capitalist society, this competition is seen as the driving force behind social change and the attempt by marginalized groups to achieve equality.hSocial structures, according to this theory, are the cause of many social problems, including poverty and crime, and reflect the competition among groups. By understanding these social structures, conflict theory seeks to reveal the ways in which inequality, power, and oppression are maintained and perpetuated.