Running head: CONFLICT THEORY 1

Conflict Theory in the Context of Race & Ethnicity

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Overview of the Conflict Theory

Karl Marx conflict theory holds that there is an unending conflict due to struggle for the

limited resources among societies. According to this theory, social order is preserved through

unfair domination and power, rather than by conformity. Those with wealth and power hold on

to it mainly by suppressing the poor. Marx’s conflict theory focuses on the conflict between the

rich who hold the bulk of wealth and the poor. Due to the rise of capitalism, Karl Marx theorized

that the wealthy who are the minority would oppress the poor who are the majority class.

The conflict theory predicts that there will always be an uneven distribution of resources

which will be maintained through ideological coercion where the rich force the poor to accept

their current conditions. Marx also believed that the working class and poor would notice the

inequalities that cause their exploitation at the hands of wealthy capitalists and they would rebel

leading to class antagonism. Karl maintains that if the situation is resolved, but the capitalist

system is maintained, the conflict cycle would continue.

In the U.S., there is a great disparity in wealth distribution with the White Americans

earning almost twice the income than the minority population of African Americans, Native

Americans, and Latinos. The unbalanced sharing of power also indicates that young black men

are twice as likely as whites not to get employment. The uneven power and wealth have put the

minority races at a disadvantage which has resulted in endless debates about the privileges of the

white race.

Article Link to the Topic

According to the article A Study On The Changing Racial Makeup Of ‘The Next

America,’ the American racial composition is rapidly changing due to immigration. The recent
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study by Pew Research Center indicates that by the year 2060, white Americans will only

comprise 43 percent of the entire population. The number of the so-called minority groups will

have grown tremendously, and the number of Black Americans and Hispanic together will make

up 45 percent by the year 2060. Historically, the U.S. is a nation of immigrants and settlers with

almost 90 percent of immigrants coming from Europe and many Black Americans coming to

America during the slave trade era. However, this trend has changed due to the influx of

immigrants from Latin America. According to the recent statistics, over 25% of the U.S.

population is made up of immigrants, and it is expected to rise. Mark Lopez the director of

Hispanic Research has noted that intermarriage is a major cause of the change in demographics

that has led to a new multi-colored generation that cannot identify itself with other races. While

racial intermarriage was both illegal and a taboo, today one in every six newlyweds is across

ethnic or racial lines.

Due to the rise of a neutral generation that doesn’t identify with either race, the election

of Barrack Obama didn’t help to solve the race-related issues. The minority groups are defined as

social groups that are deprived of their power and resources and made available to dominant

groups. In the U.S. this problem has developed due to racism. It’s not a secret that racial

profiling is a common thing among the whites, especially by the police. That’s why President

Bush addressed racial profiling on February 27, 2001 during his first speech to Congress where

he directed John Ashcroft who was the Attorney General to come up with recommendations that

would end racial profiling by the police. Although firsthand data on racial profiling is scarce,

there are several cases of police targeting minorities during field interrogations and when

conducting traffic stops. Minority groups such as the African American have to bear the vicious

cycle of poverty due to racial profiling, and this has led to social ills like substance abuse and
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crime. The result is high rates of imprisonment among the blacks. The system is built in a way

that those who are convicted and serve their sentences won’t have the opportunity to land gainful

employment, and this has led to the vicious cycle of poverty.

The recent unemployment statistics indicate that only 4.5 of the entire white population

are unemployed while that of the blacks is at almost 9%. Unfortunately, these numbers don’t

account for those who have been incarcerated, and this means that the situation is worse than it

looks. The consequences of incarceration are bringing up children without father figures which

often land them in trouble especially during their teenage years. This can greatly affect their

education and minimize their chances of attaining high school diplomas, and this limits their job

opportunities. True to Karl Marx inference, capitalism has led to conflicts. In the U.S. racism has

been a major factor of imbalance that has mainly benefitted the white majority.

Despite the current situation, there is hope that racial divisions will fade mainly due to the

shifting demographics. The rise of a neutral generation means that will be less inclined to

identify with any race. I believe that real change is possible but only if all races make an effort to

pursue this end. Currently, there are noteworthy efforts being made both in the arts and

entertainment industry through films and television shows that introduce the new type of families

to their audiences. However, the education sector should also come in to sensitize students in

lower grades to spare them from the harsh realities.

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References

Restuccia, D. (2014). A Study On The Changing Racial Makeup Of ‘The Next America.’

HuffPost. Retrieved February 22, 2018, from https://www.huffingtonpost.com/

Stark, R. (2007). Sociology (10th ed.). Thomas Wadsworth. ISBN 0-495-09344-0.

US Census Bureau (2016). Population Estimates. Retrieved February 22, 2018, from

https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/US/PST045216