The reality defined by the radical structuralist paradigm, like
that of the radical humanist, is predicated upon a view of
society as a potentially dominating force. However, it is tied
to a materialist conception of the social world, which is defined
by hard, concrete, ontologically real structures. Reality
is seen as existing on its own account independently of the
way in which it is perceived and reaffirmed by people in
everyday activities. This reality is viewed as being characterized
by intrinsic tensions and contradictions between opposing
elements, which inevitably lead to radical change in
the system as a whole.