2 Chwrren I: nooucTOn To THe Sooas Daesens oF Esucenex Conflict isa clash between ideas, principles and people. ict theor} focuses on the struggle of social} classes to main- tain dominance and power in social systems. Consensus theory emphasizes on social order, jsta- bility and social regulation. clash between opposing ideas, principles or people which may be covert or overt. Dahrendorf (1959, 1968) as cited by Ritzer (2000) is the major exponent of the position that society has two faces (conflict and consensus) and that sociological theory therefore should be divided into two parts, confiiet theory and consensus theory. SLonsensus theories view shared norms and values as fundamental to society, focus on social order based on tacit agreements, and view social change 2s occurring in a slow and orderly fashion. In contrast, conflict theories emphasize the dominance of some social groups by others, see social order as based on manipulation and control by dommant groups, and view social change as occurring rapidly and in a disorderly fashion as subordinate groups overthrow dominant groups (Ritzer, 2000). Consensus theorists examine value integration in society, and conflict theorists examine conflicts of interest and the coercion that holds society together in the face of these stresses. Dahrendorf recognizes that society can not exist without both conflict and consensus, which are prerequisites for each other. Thus, we cannot have conflict unless there is some prior consensus. The conflict theory, according to Horton and Hunt (1984) focuses on the heterogeneous nature of society and the differential distribution OF political and social power. A struggle between social classes and class conflicts between the powerful and less powerful groups occur. Groups which have vested interest and power work for rules and laws, particularly those that serve their own interests, to be passed to the exclusion of others. Conflict theorists ask how schools contribute to the unequal distribution of people into jobs in society so that more powerful members of society maintain the best positions and the less powerful groups (often women, racial and ethnic groups) often minority groups, are allocated to lower ranks in society. The larger issue for conflict theorists is the role that education plays in maintaining the prestige, power, and economic and social position of the dominant group in society (Ballantine and Spade, 2004).