Marxist Interpretation of Workplace Affirmative Action

This research examines the concept of affirmative action in the American work place within the context of the Marxist interpretation of conflict theory. A brief discussion of conflict theory and the Marxist interpretation of the theory is followed by an analysis of the affirmative action concept within the context of the theory interpretation.

Conflict theory is a sociological proposition offered as an alternative to structuralfunctional theory (Heller, 1987, p. 3). Proponents of conflict theory contend that structuralfunctional theory either neglects the empirical fact that conflicts of value and interest or inherent in all forms of human society or treats such conflicts in only a secondary context (Dahrendorf, 1987, p. 417).

The conflict paradigm describes social life as a struggle among competing individuals and groups (Babbie, 1992, p. 57). The Marxist interpretation of the conflict paradigm is made within the concept of class struggle. Early Marxism defines classes as wage laborers, capitalist, and land owners (Tucker, 1978, p. 441). Later Marxist interpretations, however, recognized that some degree of blurring frequently occurs between these classes. Such blurring between classes provides a basis for the analysis of the affirmative action concept within the context of the Marxist interpretation of conflict theory, as dominant gender, racial, and ethnic populatio

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Second, equal opportunity is promoted on the grounds that it promotes economic efficiency. If this latter contention were widely accepted in society, it is likely that instances of employment discrimination would drop dramatically. This contention, however, is not universally accepted by employees, employers, or economists. Those who promote equal opportunity on the grounds that economic efficiency will be promoted at the same time are stating in effect that existing resource allocations are not economically efficient. Conversely, those who hold that improvements in equal opportunity must be gained through losses to others in the economy are stating in effect that existing resource allocations are economically efficient, and that gains in equal opportunity must involve tradeoffs with economic efficiency and must be provided at the expense of someone else. Social responsibility is imposed on business and industry in the interest area of employment discrimination in the contexts of hiring, promotion, retention, and compensation (Jenner, 1994, p. 11). The regulation of business and industry in these contexts is intended to eliminate overt discrimination on the basis of gender, racial or ethnic background, religious prefer
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Approximate Word count = 1862
Approximate Pages = 7 (250 words per page)

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