Mills and Berger: Modern Conflict Theory and Unemployment

Modern Conflict Theory and Unemployment
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Modern Conflict Theory and Unemployment
Two sociologists that made significant contributions to modern conflict theory are Peter Berger and C. Wright Mills. The modern conflict theory posits that society is characterized by unending struggles for power and resources between various groups. Berger and Mills bring two concepts that can be effectively used to explain unemployment as a consequence of power struggles in the sense that the uneven results of the power struggle mean that certain groups may be more likely to face unemployment compared to others. An understanding of Mills and Berger's perspective on conflict theory can shape one’s understanding of unemployment, but it is important to recognize the weaknesses of their ideas.
Both Mills and Berger introduce ideas that can be used to understand unemployment. On the one hand, C. Wright Mills would explain unemployment as a consequence of the existence of a “power elite.” The power elite has sufficient political and economic power enabling them to shape employment policies to their advantage (Staubmann, 2021). As a consequence, unemployment emerges as the power elite will tend to prioritize their in-groups at the expense of broader society. On the other hand, Peter Berger introduces the concept of “cultural capital” to the modern conflict theory explanation of unemployment. Cultural capital is defined as the various values, knowledge, and behaviors that are considered valuable to a given culture (Clouet, Freier, & Senghaas, 2022). Berger posits that individuals with cultural capital gain access to employment opportunities, with individuals without the required cultural capital experience unemployment.
Notably, Mills and Berger’s views on unemployment have two main strengths. First, the ideas advanced by Mills and Berger to explain unemployment offers a nuanced explanation for the causes of this issue that goes beyond individual-level factors such as lack of education or work ethic. ...