A second difference is the tendency toward greater conflict than is found under paternalistic relationships. The conflict carries with it the chance for mass violence and the possibility of severe repression of the minority from the majority. Within fluid competitive race relations one still finds the conflict associated with rigid competitive relations, but the social system is beginning to resemble a class system. Formal discrimination is outlawed , and, in theory, members of each group are able to pursue any endeavor. It doesn't quit work, however, because, minorities have few resources and members of the majority still control major institutions.
People continue to think of themselves as possessing racial identities .
As a result, when resources are in short supply, there is competition between racial groups for those resources. In general, minorities are much less restricted than under the two previous relationships, but it is still a system of racial inequality . In fact, competition between the group might be quite intense, because of the greater freedom on the part of the minority to express their discontent. Some Further Comparisons of Paternalistic, Rigid Competitive, and Fluid Competitive Race Relations 1. The paternalistic pattern is typically found in agricultural societies with large scale land ownership.