In the years following the heyday of the Chicago school, Park's reputation took a downfall, and his idea of "symbolic interactionism" was subsequently pushed aside. Park was frequently, and incorrectly, called a conservative when it came to his theory of the race relations cycle. Critics of Park misinterpreted his theory of race relations in that they believed that Park meant to assert that progression through the four stages was inevitable; in reality, Park meant nothing of the sort. Within Park's theory of conflict, race relations exists merely as a specific case of this greater theory. Racial groups, or any other kind of group can remain in the conflict stage indefinitely.