What were the sources of the conflict constructionist paradigm? What influences felt by the community of sociologists propelled them in new directions? This chapter examines three concentric circles of influence around the community of sociological theorists who adopted the paradigm: (1) individual theoretical innovators who strongly and directly influenced the emergence of conflict constructionism; (2) the intellectual climate that stimulated its emergence; and (3) the larger social context of changes in societies on a global scale that both affected sociological theory directly and influenced the intellectual climate.