The conflict perspective posits that the engine of history and main source of change is the struggle between what?

• A. The functions of social institutions
• B. Social classes
• C. Individual aspirations
• D. Cultural norms

Answer: (B)

Conflict theory sees history as driven by the tension between social classes. The central idea is that society is split between those who own the means of production and those who sell their labor, and the struggle over wealth, power, and resources between these groups pushes institutions, laws, and economic systems to change. This ongoing conflict can lead to reforms, shifts in policy, or revolutionary transformations as power dynamics realign. Other perspectives focus on how institutions function to maintain stability, on individual ambitions, or on shared cultural norms, none of which center the persistent class-based struggle as the primary driver of historical change.