The book argues that the nature of the conflict depends on existing social and political cleavages and on the level of economic development.

Weber strongly criticized Marx's attempt to explain all social cleavages as the product of economically based class structures and struggles.

Common religious affiliation has played a role in defusing the potential for tensions that arise from other social cleavages.

The market-oriented economy has produced enormous wealth but also generated major social cleavages.

The Crimson valued hard work and talent, yet some of the same social cleavages that divided the campus were nevertheless visible.

On the contrary, they further aggravate these social cleavages.

There is a sense of the need for more Europe, which is slightly different in the two parts following social and economic cleavages.

In Italy traditional social cleavages survived more openly than in Germany.

Western politicians rely on utilizing these social cleavages to garner support from voters.

In Chinese culture it would be proprieties for a politician to exploit these social cleavages to achieve the personal goal of getting elected.