explanation

@Madelyn-Luskey The conservative tells us that a lot of history happens through accident. The socialist tells us that in order to make change, we have to analyze history. However, if the conservative believes that since history is accidental, there is essentially little to learn from it that would inform movements for change, this would put the conservative at hard odds with the socialist. Does that make sense?

So (E) is basically saying that because conservatives think history is accidental and you can't learn much from it, this conflicts with the socialist view? I think the question stem is what's throwing me off... is it saying that if the conservatives hold X belief (answer choice E in this case) that the socialists will have a conflict?

Yes, it's saying that if the conservative, in addition to their viewpoint above, believes one of the below, then it conflicts with the statements that the socialist said.