 Dear students, in this module, we are going to talk about conflict approach as one of the important theoretical perspectives of socialization process. They are of the view that socialization is a means by which those in power maintain their dominance over those without power. As you know that conflict perspective, proponents of conflict perspective are always of the view that it is a perpetual or continuous struggle between two classes, those who have resources and those who do not have the resources. So socialization process actually perpetuates this class struggle. It is a process which is used for increasing or perpetuating the inequality within these two classes. So it reproduces the social inequality by transmitting the values and norms that justify and reinforce the existing social order. They think that the socialization process is used by societies so that the existing inequalities can either be reinforced, re-inserted, or re-enforced or re-enforced or re-enforced or re-enforced or re-enforced or re-enforced or re-enforced or re-enforced or re-enforced as well. So as a result of this socialization process, potentially such a positive aspect that cannot be seen as a conflict perspective, but in fact if we look at this process from a critical point of view, then this process perpetuates the same inequality in which those on who are on advantageous position who have more benefit from this socialization process and those who are on a disadvantageous position, they consider the same disadvantageous position as normal. In Pakistan, for example, conflict theorists might point to the ways in which our education system perpetuates this social inequality by providing better resources to the wealthy students and reinforcing the values and behaviors of the ruling elite. For example, we have a bifurcated education system here. If we pay attention to this, we see that the elite schools have a different socialization process. The quality of education and standard of education are completely or absolutely different than those public sector schools in which the lower-middle-class students are taking education. So, our education system perpetuates this socialization process and perpetuates that inequality. So, potentially, the students who will emerge from a good education system will be on a disadvantageous position and those who will emerge from a relatively low-quality education system later on in professional life will be on a disadvantageous position. So, from a conflict perspective, this helps us to point out things that potentially exist within the system. So, socialization can also be used as a tool of social control to maintain the status quo and suppress the dissent. The differences of opinion are also related to the fact that our authority is a guiding principle and a guiding force that determines the definitions of right and wrong. Not only is it determined on this basis that right and wrong can be determined on a shared or consensus basis. Your point of view can also be good even if you are not on a subordinate position. But the conflict perspective says that the status quo that is reinforced on a subordinate position does not matter to you. So, in this approach, socialization is viewed as a negative force that perpetuates social inequality and oppression. So, one limitation of this perspective is that it tends to downplay the ways in which socialization can be a means of resistance and agency for those who are at the marginalised position. It is not that the marginalised positions on the subordinate position can never create resistance. In fact, the sense of resistance is created in them. There are changes in the environment. Whether it is created in the situation of conflict but it can play a functional role for the society later on. So, the conflict perspective downplays this aspect and in a nutshell, socialization potentially reflects this inequality as a process of perpetuating it.