Essay - The War in Iraq: an Application of Conflict Theory Introduction...

The War In Iraq: An Application of Conflict Theory

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The recent war with Iraq has been on the minds of people all across the world since well before it started. Many are worried that the Un*****ed States will be seen as *****ing too c*****trolling, and that it should let ***** Iraqi ***** work out their own problems. Others, who are concerned about the threat of terrorist activity in this country and others, stick with the belief that the United ***** was right in ***** attempt to remove Saddam Hussein from power.

Regardless of which opinion one holds, there are theorists, both classical ***** modern, who have strong views on war. This is largely due to conflict theory, which is ***** life is largely characterized more by conflict that it is by consensus. Those who uphold ***** theory have different ways of looking at *****, and the purpose ***** this paper is to look at classical theor*****ts such as Karl Marx ***** Max Weber, as ***** as modern theorists ***** as Ralph Dahrendorf, Lewis Coser, Randall Collins, and Immanuel Wallerstein. The different views they have of ***** theory will then be applied to the war in Iraq.

***** an underst**********g ***** conflict ***** is establ*****hed based on how *****se particular theorists choose to view it, a comp*****rison and contrast of the beliefs that ***** hold will be discussed as well. This is important in understanding not only ***** theory, but how it applies to real-life situations such as war. ***** theory can be used in other *****, ***** war ***** one ***** the most obvious and violent ways that countries deal with conflict, and is therefore a good way ***** discuss the ***** *****ories that ***** related to conflicts between individuals.

***** because an individual was a classical or a ***** theorist, that does ***** me***** that that person agreed with ***** theorist of the day. Sometimes, there were differences ***** ***** theorists, or differences between modern theorists. When discussing conflict theory, ***** really is no right ***** wrong. There are only the *****s ***** those who believe that the ***** applies ***** everyday life as ***** as to major and life-altering issues such as ***** war that is currently being undertaken in Iraq.

Classical Theorists

Classical ***** include Karl Marx and Max *****. Karl Marx is basically the father of conflict theory, and many of the ***** and other social theories around today came from his ***** and opinions. Marx believed in a materialist view of history, and saw the ***** important part of a social life as being the work ***** individuals were doing. This was especially true of ***** that resulted in the basic necessities ***** as shelter, clothing, and food. The value of society therefore resulted from human labor, and everything that men ***** women were ***** to create ***** and shape it actually created the conditions for *****ir very own existence (McClelland, 2000).

Marx concerned himself primarily with the capitalist **********, where political ***** exercised