By Lawan Musa Danlami (Baba Lawan)
July 24,2026
Across the world, capitalism is often celebrated as the engine of innovation, investment, and economic growth. Its defenders point to rising productivity, technological advancement, and the creation of wealth. Yet beneath these achievements lies a difficult question: Who truly benefits from the wealth that capitalism creates?
For millions of workers, peasants, artisans, and ordinary citizens, economic growth has not always translated into a better quality of life. Instead, many face unemployment, stagnant wages, rising living costs, and widening inequality. Sociology offers important insights into why this matters—not only for economic justice but also for peace and security.
Robert K. Merton's Strain Theory argues that societies encourage people to pursue success, wealth, and social recognition. However, when legitimate opportunities such as quality education, decent jobs, and fair wages are unavailable, people experience frustration or "strain." Some eventually resort to crime, corruption, fraud, kidnapping, or other illegal means to survive. In other words, insecurity is often rooted not simply in individual choices but in structural economic exclusion.
Karl Marx took this criticism even further. He argued that capitalism concentrates wealth in the hands of a few while the working class creates much of that wealth through its labour. As profits increase for owners of capital, many workers continue to struggle with low wages and economic insecurity. According to Marx, such inequality inevitably breeds resentment, class conflict, and social instability. A society where luxury exists alongside extreme poverty is unlikely to enjoy lasting peace.
Émile Durkheim introduced the concept of anomie, a condition in which rapid economic change and inequality weaken shared moral values and social cohesion. When people lose faith in the fairness of society, respect for institutions declines, and crime and social disorder become more common.
Similarly, Ted Robert Gurr's Relative Deprivation Theory explains that violence often emerges when people perceive a growing gap between what they expect from society and what they are actually able to achieve. It is not poverty alone that fuels unrest but the painful comparison between immense wealth enjoyed by a privileged minority and the daily hardship endured by the majority.
These theories challenge policymakers to rethink economic priorities. The issue is not private enterprise itself but economic systems that permit persistent inequality, blocked opportunities, and the concentration of wealth without adequate social protection. History shows that societies become more stable when economic growth is accompanied by decent jobs, fair wages, accessible education, affordable healthcare, and equal opportunities.
Capitalism has undoubtedly contributed to economic development in many countries. It has fostered innovation, entrepreneurship, and improvements in living standards. However, when left unchecked by effective institutions and social policies, it can also widen inequality and weaken social cohesion. Sustainable prosperity requires balancing market efficiency with social justice.
The lesson from sociology is clear: insecurity cannot be solved by policing alone. A society that neglects its workers, marginalises its youth, and leaves millions without realistic opportunities is laying the foundation for future instability. Economic justice is therefore not merely a moral aspiration—it is a practical necessity for national peace, development, and security.
As governments debate budgets, investment, and economic reforms, they must remember that the strength of a nation is measured not only by the wealth of its richest citizens but by the dignity, opportunities, and wellbeing of its ordinary people.
Social inequality and capitalist systems put heavy pressure on society by concentrating wealth, resources, and economic opportunities in the hands of a relatively small segment of the population. As wealth becomes increasingly concentrated, many people struggle with low wages, unemployment, underemployment, limited access to quality education, healthcare, housing, and other essential services. This imbalance widens the gap between the rich and the poor, making social mobility more difficult for those from disadvantaged backgrounds.
At the same time, capitalist economies often encourage intense competition for jobs, income, business opportunities, and social status. While competition can foster innovation and economic growth, excessive competition may also create insecurity, anxiety, and chronic stress, especially for those who lack financial stability or social protection. Individuals may feel constant pressure to work longer hours, accept poor working conditions, or compete for scarce opportunities simply to meet their basic needs.
In addition, growing economic inequality can weaken traditional community support systems. As people become more focused on individual economic survival, social solidarity, mutual assistance, and collective responsibility may decline. Families and communities that once provided strong emotional and financial support can become strained by economic hardship, leaving many individuals feeling isolated and vulnerable.
The combined effects of wealth concentration, economic insecurity, relentless competition, and weakened social support contribute to significant daily stress for ordinary people. Over time, these pressures can affect mental and physical health, reduce overall well-being, increase social tensions, and, in some contexts, contribute to higher levels of crime, conflict, and social instability when legitimate opportunities for advancement appear limited. Many sociologists argue that these outcomes are shaped not only by individual choices but also by broader economic and social structures that influence access to resources and opportunities.
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