Final answer:
Conflict theory examines societal conflicts that arise from struggles over resources and power, identifying how social institutions perpetuate inequality. Grounded in Marxist theory, it critiques culture, authority, and the impact of social structures on maintaining power differentials.
Step-by-step explanation:
Conflict theory is a social science perspective that views society through the lens of competition and social inequality. The theory is most closely associated with Karl Marx, who posited that societal conflicts arise from differences in class and power. He believed that the proletariat, the working class, and the bourgeoisie, those who control the means of production, are in a constant struggle for resources and power. This theory applies not only to economic struggles but also to social institutions like government, education, and religion, highlighting how they perpetuate inequality and maintain the status quo for those in power.
Within the context of conflict theory, culture and authority are seen as tools that perpetuate power dynamics. For instance, certain advocacy groups and religions are criticized by conflict theorists for maintaining a power differential that keeps one group in a superior position over another. These theorists focus on the systematic reproduction of inequality, whether it be through class, gender, race or exploitation of workers in peripheral nations by core nations.