Conflict theory can be divided into two distinct traditions:
Marxism and Neo-Marxism:
Believes social scientists have a moral obligation to critique society
Refusal to separate analysis from judgment or fact – can’t be objective
Belief that society could be constructed in such a manner that conflict could be eliminated – utopian version of society
Karl Marx, Neo-Marxism, Frankfurt School, C.Wright Mills, Pierre Bourdieu
Weberian Conflict Theory:
Considers conflict to be an inevitable and permanent aspect of social life
Rejects the idea that social science can’t be objective
Interest in establishing a scientific social science
Ralf Darendorf, Lewis Coser, Randall Collins