Conflict theory looks at society as a competition for limited resources. The main focus through conflict theory is to focus on creating social change through the application of sociological principle. Karl Marx was a social theorist and author of “The Communist Manofesto”. Marx had stated that “The history of all hitherto existing society is the history of class struggle”. Marx believed that saw human development as occurring due to a series of class struggles between high class, and the lower class citizens.

The underlying premise of the theory focused on the conflict between two classes. One of the classes was the “bourgeoisie” that represented the members of society that have the most wealth. The other class was the “proletariat” which included the poor working classes. Marx reflected that the “bourgeoisie” (high class/wealthy) would use their power and wealth to oppress the proletariat due to the rise of capitalism.

This conflict theory is the representation of a “pyramid” in which a few people dictates the others below them due to their control over resources, power, and terms and conditions to the large portion of society. The uneven distribution was expected to be maintained by the bourgeoisie who would control the proletariat by forcing them to accept current conditions.

These conditions have played out in today’s society during elections. For example a candidate running for a spot in office can have a better advantage over his opponent if he has more funding available.

This funding could potentially help the candidate have a better campaign by buying their way into office by bribing voters.

The U.S. society is a capitalist society which thrives off of the almighty green dollar. Whoever has the most money has more valid opinions, which is why everyone is working toward gaining more money daily.

The Submissive State: A Theory of Conflict and Control

Introduction

Throughout history, power dynamics have shaped human societies, from tribal hierarchies to modern nation-states. Traditional political theories often frame these dynamics in terms of competition, self-interest, and mutual cooperation. However, an overlooked yet fundamental structure exists within these relationships: submission and dominance. Borrowing from the kink community’s concepts of "topping" and "bottoming," I propose The Submissive State as a framework to understand how states, organizations, and individuals willingly assume positions of submission within broader power structures.

The Nature of Submission and Dominance

In the realm of BDSM, the "top" assumes control, leading the interaction, while the "bottom" submits, yielding power in an exchange built on consent and trust. These roles mirror real-world governance and international relations, where one entity assumes control, while another submits, often willingly, for the sake of security, stability, or economic benefits.

Submission, in this sense, is not a weakness but an active choice that enables structure. Just as a submissive partner in a relationship derives pleasure or fulfillment from yielding control, a submissive state finds security, protection, or economic prosperity in yielding to a dominant power. This can be seen in vassal states, protectorates, and even modern geopolitical alliances where smaller nations accept military oversight or economic dependency in exchange for stability.

Conflict as a Mechanism for Power Exchange

Conflict, whether violent or diplomatic, serves as a means of negotiating roles within this hierarchy. A state does not submit arbitrarily; it does so after recognizing the futility of resistance or the benefits of subordination. Similarly, the dominant state (or power) assumes its role not simply through force, but because submission is offered, consciously or otherwise.

The Cold War exemplifies this dynamic. The United States and the Soviet Union played the role of competing "tops," while many smaller nations were forced into submission—either willingly, through economic dependency, or unwillingly, through military intervention. Even today, the relationship between the U.S. and its allies can be seen as a structured form of topping and bottoming, where smaller nations align themselves under U.S. military or economic influence in exchange for protection and support.

The Stability of the Submissive State

A submissive state does not exist in perpetual servitude; rather, its submission is contingent on the competency of its "top." A poorly managed dominant power risks rebellion, just as an inadequate dominant partner in a relationship risks losing their submissive's trust. The submissive state, therefore, retains agency—it can withdraw submission, seek a new dominant power, or attempt to switch roles.

History is rife with examples of this transition. Former colonies that once submitted to imperial rule later rebelled, seeking autonomy. Nations under economic influence sometimes shift their allegiances to stronger or more favorable partners. Submission, therefore, is fluid, and dominance is never absolute.

Conclusion

The Submissive State offers a lens through which we can analyze power dynamics beyond mere conflict or cooperation. Submission is not solely about coercion but about structured relationships that allow for stability and prosperity. Just as in kink dynamics, the act of submitting can be a choice that brings security, while the act of topping requires responsibility and control. Understanding political and social structures through this framework allows us to see that dominance and submission are not merely roles imposed by force, but often chosen, negotiated, and even desired.

Shared with permission. Stephen Miniotis. 31 Jan 2025.

"Rough drafts become letters. stay tuned!"

Image: (Watt, 2015)

“Although functionalists theorize that inequality is a necessary and beneficial aspect of society, conflict theorists argue that it is unfair and exists at the expense of less powerful groups.’ (Conley, 2015 p32). The Marxist conflict theory holds that power and authority are essential for maintaining social, political and economic inequality, as well as exerting control over those who are viewed as being part of the surplus population. These theorists do not believe that equality exists or that all people are treated fairly under the law, but rather the law, and the justice system (police, courts, and corrections) are biased in favor of powerful groups. When those who are not part of the mainstream society (the chronically unemployed or those viewed as mentally ill) participate in social protests even while protected under their Constitutional rights, local police and other governmental agencies may violently disrupt them from exercising that right. Because conflict exists in society, these theorists view the law, police, and other governmental agents as coercive weapons used to promote the interests of powerful groups to the detriment of the powerless. All the while, the police’s use of excessive force resulting in the deaths of certain segments of the population may not be criminally prosecuted.

Thus, this brings me to a short timeline chronicling this movement.  

* February 26, 2012 - The “Black Lives Matter” as a movement, was coined in 2012 after the shooting of Trayvon Martin, and George Zimmerman was acquitted of the murder.

* July 17, 2014 - Eric Garner is choked to death by a police officer in NYC. The courts fail to indict the officer.

* August 9, 2014 - An unarmed teenager named Michael Brown is killed by a police officer in Ferguson, Missouri.

* November 13, 2014 - A 12-year old child named Tamir Rice is shot by Cleveland police after his toy gun was confused with being a real weapon. Charges were never brought against the officers involved.

* April 12, 2015 - Freddie Gray is killed while in police custody in Baltimore, MD of a spinal cord injury while in transport.

* July 13, 2015 - Sandra Bland was found hung in her cell in custody in Texas.  She was arrested after being pulled over for not signaling before a turn.

(ABC News 2016)

As a result to the string of mostly questionable police violence towards members of the African American community, many protests and rallies started popping up around the country.  The most notable protest came by the knees of Colin Kaepernick on August 26, 2016.  He decided that he would kneel for the National Anthem instead of standing before his football game, as a peaceful way to protest the way that his people were being oppressed. This started a controversial string of actions from other athletes also kneeling in protest, and sanctions coming down the line from upset fans, and the “caught in the middle” sporting organizations.

Whether it’s the police, politicians, corporate big wigs or average Joe down the street, and the oppression they have felt handed down from them through their lives, the African American community is having an uprising and I’m hoping will institute a greater understanding and real change.  It seems to also be breeding resentment from the oppressors, but, as we learned when studying Marx’s theory, those in charge will never just lie down and let their control be taken away. 

ABC News, 2016, July 22) Timeline: The Black Lives Matter Movement. Retrieved on December 2, 2017 from:  (http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-07-14/black-lives-matter-timeline/7585856

Conley, D. (2015). You may ask yourself: An introduction to thinking like a sociologist. New York, NY, United States: W. W. Norton & Company 

Watt, P.J. (2015, Dec. 30)The Risks for 2016: Economic Collapse, More False Flags and WWIII. Retrieved from: http:// http://themindunleashed.com