What is the difference between conflict and consensus theories of society?

Consensus theorists support the idea that everyone in society has a shared, communal goal which they work together in harmony to achieve. This is known as social solidarity. One consensus theorist, Emile Durkheim, describes this shared workings of society through the 'organic analogy'. A body is made up of many cells, which when brought together create organs. Whilst organs and cells have their own functions, they also must work together in order to keep the body alive. People are the cells of society, which come together to create institutions such as education. Institutions and people must work interdependently in order to sustain society. Conflict theorists take a much different approach. They see society as being based on the interests of one powerful group which imposes and marginalises others in society. Two major conflict theories studied are Feminism and Marxism. Marxists see this powerful imposing group being based upon the 'bourgeoisie'; the upper class who own the means of production marginalising the working class 'proletariat'. Feminists see patriarchy and those sustaining it as the imposing group causing suffering to marginalised women in society.