In a community facing resource shortages, a new policy is proposed to allocate funds primarily to the wealthiest neighborhoods, under the assumption that investment in these areas will eventually benefit the entire community. Which principle of conflict theory is most evident in this situation?

In this situation, the principle of conflict theory that is most evident is the idea that resources and power are unequally distributed in society. The proposed policy favors wealthier neighborhoods, assuming that helping them will somehow benefit everyone, but this approach ignores the needs of poorer areas. Conflict theory suggests that the rich often maintain their advantages while the less fortunate struggle, leading to greater inequality. For example, if a city invests heavily in a wealthy neighborhood to improve its parks, the residents there may enjoy more benefits, while those in poorer areas continue to face resource shortages. This shows how the interests of the powerful can overshadow the needs of the community as a whole, perpetuating the cycle of inequality.