Introduction
The case study revolves around Center East College (CEC), a public liberal arts university grappling with social disparities in its student body composition. This matters in the case study. Race and class diversity characterize CEC students. Many races still need to be included, although most are rich. To reduce the financial gap and diversify the student body, CEC’s governing board suggested emphasizing local working-class candidates. Some youngsters and adults disliked it. Some called it unreasonable and unwarranted (Collins, 2022). Popular sociological ideas, Clash Theory, and Critical ideas of Race and Racism will be examined in this case. Wealth inequality causes social classes, especially the bourgeoisie and proletariat, to clash, according to traditional conflict theory. Critical racial theory and racism reveal the complexity of oppression by investigating racist institutions and power relations. Theories can explain the social dynamics of CEC’s preferential admission scheme and how they affect social solutions.
Classical Theory: Conflict Theory
Historical Context
Traditional sociology uses conflict theory. Industrial Revolution turbulence caused social and class divisions. In the 18th and 19th centuries, mechanized production displaced North American and European agricultural economies. Results drastically altered economic, social, and cooperative stratification. Conflict Theory is linked to the social changes of the Industrial Revolution. Before this, most countries relied on agriculture, and feudalism concentrated wealth and power in a few. Reverse industrialization boosted industries and City dwellers. Capitalism and wage work characterized the new social order. This social and economic stratification formed the bourgeoisie, who controlled the means of production, and people experiencing poverty, who worked for wages. Conflict Theory examines capitalism’s effects on relationships. Karl Marx purportedly called capitalist society exploitative in “Capital.” Marx claimed that the bourgeoisie used the proletariat’s desire for profit to enrich themselves and perpetuate economic inequality (Collins, 2022). Marx thought the bourgeoisie’s obsession with profit maximization at the proletariat’s cost due to their uneven income and power caused class strife. Influential conflict theory philosophers included Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels. Karl Marx was born in Trier, Germany, in 1818. Over his lifetime, several social and economic changes affected him. European industrial towns flourished, causing working-class distress.
Theory Explanation
At the heart of Conflict Theory lies a profound analysis of societal division into social classes, illuminating how these divisions perpetuate systemic inequalities and power imbalances. Conflict theory states that unequal success creates different groupings. These factions change and become more hostile due to power struggles and competing interests. They move often. According to conflict theory, the capitalist bourgeoisie and proletariat, who trade products and services for labour, are at odds—the upper class profits from exploiting the working class in capitalism. The capitalists put themselves before the proletariat to satisfy their lust and maintain economic power. The two communities are hostile because of this fundamental difference. Class conflict is emphasized in conflict theory (Collins, 2022). It wonderfully captures the class struggle the proletariat and affluent will always face. Marx thought contradictions generated social and historical transformation.
The proletariat resists exploitation and seeks economic and social justice through strikes, revolutions, and demonstrations. Conflict theory holds that social tensions in capitalist nations will lead to a revolutionary coup d’état that abolishes classes and establishes socialism. Struggle theory explains social transformation and revolutions as a cycle of conflict and progress. Marx foresaw that class struggles and revolutions would create new social cohesiveness and productivity. Conflict theory says capitalist countries’ revolutions will establish a socialist society where everyone owns a piece of the production process.
Strengths and Limitations
Conflict Theory, a sociological theory, is essential to understanding capitalist systemic inequalities and power imbalances. Understand economic and social inequality’s sources. Oversimplifying social processes without considering non-economic aspects might be detrimental. Conflict theory shows capitalism’s inequality. Conflict theory states that a social group’s resources, money, and power distinguish it. This theory claims that capitalists exploit the proletariat. Conflict theory states that systems force low-income and socially disadvantaged people to create opposing groupings. Activists and researchers must analyze power dynamics, question dominant narratives, and advocate for legislation to end systematic injustice and promote social justice.
Conflict theory supports workers’ rights movements for better salaries, working conditions, and collective bargaining. Struggle theory says class struggles drive revolutionary societal transformation. According to conflict theory, revolutionary capitalist upheavals lead to socialism. This forecast is supported by late 19th- and early 20th-century revolutions and labour movements. Conflict theory promotes revolution and communal action (Collins, 2022). It urges scholars and activists to base social transformation on economic and social justice. The conflict hypothesis is wrong. Being overly casual can damage the discourse. Conflict theory may ignore complex non-economic inequities and social identities. Social and economic class dynamics are examined. This restricted vision may obstruct social connections by overlooking women, persons of colour, and LGBTQ+ people.
Contemporary Theory: Critical Theories of Race and Racism
Historical Context
In response to modern racism and discrimination, sociology developed Critical Theories of Race and Racism. This concept comes from oppressed peoples’ fight against institutional racism and intolerance. Many feel the mid-century American Civil Rights Movement produced critical views on racism and race. Race and segregation prompted African Americans and other minorities to organize and protest. Social justice activists and academics studied racial injustice. Theoretical traditions like critical race and feminist theories have impacted modern criticisms of racism and inequality (Bonilla-Silva, 2022). Research on power, legality, and race flourished in the 1980s and 1970s. Critical race theory in law evolved at this time. Essential theorists of race Kimberlé Crenshaw, Derrick Bell, and Patricia Williams have shown how institutions and laws promote racism. Critical Theories of Race and Racism addresses political, economic, social, and judicial racism.
Theory Explanation
Critical race theory examines complex societal issues, including racism and inequality. This perspective is unique in its deep and complete assessment of racial power and hierarchies, structural racism’s sources and effects, and future possibilities and paths to racial justice. Critical racial perspectives examine social construction to understand racial dominance. It says gender, class, and sexual orientation oppress and divide races. Critical racial theory examines how institutionalized racism and social norms shape race (Bonilla-Silva, 2022). Race divides power and advantage. Racial lenses highlight how race impacts identities and possibilities. Racial oppression and discrimination are defined.
Critical Theories of Race and Racism examines structural racism and its effects. “Systemic racism” refers to institutional and group racial biases that disadvantage people of colour. This position holds that racist and unfair criminal justice, housing, educational, and healthcare policies and practices reinforce racism and inequality. Critical Theories of Race and Racism blames moral decay and cultural mistakes for racial disparities. This can be achieved by recognizing racial injustice and how structural factors sustain it.
Strengths and Limitations
Critics of racism and race argue that they ignore socioeconomic inequality and are challenging to apply. They may provide marginalized people with a voice and new perspectives. Critical Theories of Race and Racism’s intersectional approach shows how race, gender, class, sexual orientation, and other oppressions are linked. This theory relates individuals, social norms, and identities to racial dynamics. Critical Theories of Race and Racism revive silenced voices to expose racism. Intersecting inequality can reveal how multiple oppressions reinforce each other (Bonilla-Silva, 2022). It offers a complete examination of marginalized communities’ oppressions. Contrary to common belief, Critical Theories of Race and Racism can emphasize underrepresented perspectives. This contradicts racial stereotypes and prejudice.
Highlighting racial injustice victims gives underrepresented groups a voice (Bonilla-Silva, 2022). Critical racial theory and racism normalize and amplify underrepresented perspectives, promoting social justice. Combining is more common among underrepresented populations. Even the most essential views of racism and injustice contain flaws. It is risky to ignore socioeconomic personality differences.
Conclusion
The Centre East College (CEC) selective admission analysis finished after reviewing Conflict Theory and Critical Theories of Race and Racism. Classical conflict theory exposes the capitalist bourgeoisie-proletariat class struggle. The text highlights power conflicts and predicts that class conflict will lead to revolution. Social class and economic disparity are fundamental. Abuse and unfairness are widespread, it says. Contemporary critical theories of race and racism explain how one oppression affects gender, class, and race. This theory examines systemic inequities and institutionalized power systems to justify racism. It adds that we can achieve racial fairness with continued work and structural improvements. Conflict Theory’s class and income inequality enlightenment may improve policy mediation over CEC’s favoured admittance strategy. In this technique, the mediator addresses structural inequality from the top down by resolving socioeconomic causes like lack of school and job opportunities. Critical Theories of Race and Racism may assist policymakers in understanding real-world oppression.
References
Bonilla-Silva, E. (2022). Color-blind racism in pandemic times. Sociology of Race and Ethnicity, 8(3), 343-354.
Collins, P. H. (2022). Black feminist thought: Knowledge, consciousness, and the politics of empowerment. Routledge.
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