A Sociological Analysis of a Nation Divided: What Would Marx and Durkheim Say?

Abstract

The Black Lives Matter movement, Blue Lives Matter movement, and the siege at the Capitol are reflective of a society in flux. While these movements involve distinctly different actors, they are representative of two antagonistic poles of a riven population. Each movement offers an opportunity to interpret the motivations that are propelling the actions. Dahrendorf’s (1959) Social Structure, Group Interests, and Conflict Groups will ground the explanation. Unlike many social theorists who divide into distinct sociological camps, Dahrendorf's work bridges this divide.