Function of Social Conflict - Essay Example

Function of social conflict There is no doubt in the idea that living in the social environment should be considered to be an irreplaceable prerequisite for the development of the potential of a human being to its fullest. Indeed, it provides an individual with numerous opportunities to adopt and master different abilities which are largely regarded as characteristic to our kind. A good example of verbal interaction, examples of which are not found anywhere beyond the society. However, it must be mentioned that living in social environment is impossible without being involved in a social conflict to a certain extent. In spite of the fact that people usually are peaceful, the idea of social conflict may be found anywhere in the society. This paper will analyze the function of social conflict. To begin with, one should point out that one of the primary functions of the phenomenon is question is not destructive as it may seen at first, but a rather constructive one, namely facilitating communication between different parts of the society (Lasswell 222). Indeed, in spite of the fact that conflict is largely associated with development of aggression and hostility, there is one particular aspect that every conflict includes – the interaction between the groups of people or particular individuals. What is more important is that it often happens that a conflict ceases to exist when the parties who are involved are able to make sure that their communication is productive. In other words, conflict becomes an effective tool which directs attention to the urgent issues that need to be resolved and facilitates communication. In the academic literature there are several views on the function that a social conflict performs. One of the most articulate scholars who promote the positive impact of the above mentioned concept is Lewis A. Coser. According to him, social conflicts should be regarded as effective tools that contribute to establishment and maintenance of group identity ("The Functions of Social Conflict"). In addition to that, he argues that conflicts also serve another important factor: just like a valve, they allow the society release the extra steam so that it would not collapse. Nevertheless, Coser makes an important reservation: social conflict are able to have positive influence on the society only they when do not deal with the fundamental matters: otherwise would undermine the very basis of it which should not be allowed. There is another interesting approach towards the notion of social conflict in general and its function in particular that is expressed by Ralf Dahrendorf. This sociologist states that conflict is an irreplaceable prerequisite for the coexistence of different groups within the framework of one society (Dillon 218). What is more important is that Dahrendorf sees social conflicts in the dialectic union with harmony of the society: these two notions oppose each other, but they simply cannot exist without each other. Finally, one of the most important points that he makes is that social conflicts are necessary to facilitate social change. This implication is particularly important as this allows a society to evolve and adapt to the new conditions of the environment. The next function which is also of great importance when it comes to evaluating the impact of conflict on the society in general and individuals in particular is its positive influence on the formation of what is called social self. It would not be an exaggeration to point out that in many cases a person might define one’s identity by choosing a particular side in the discussion or argument about a controversial topic (Brewer 475). This results in the fact that a person finds a new group of people who have the same or similar views on a certain topic which contributes to the formation of stronger relationship between the citizens and ultimately positively affects the entire social environment. What is more important is that the functions of social conflict are seen on different levels and are practiced not only among the adults, but among the children too. One of the studies pointed out that the arguments that emerge between the children may serve an important function of constructing their environment and reinforcing the organization that the majority finds favorable (Maynard 207). In other words, the constructive impact of social conflict is present on different levels of organization of society. This may be a direct evidence of the universally advantageous influence of the above mentioned social phenomena, suggesting that the stable as well as gradual development of the social environment is impossible without conflicts that introduce the necessary changes. Another aspect that may contribute to a better understanding of the function of social conflict is its connection to the dynamism of the identity and the necessity to express it. One can hardly reject the fact that social conflict is able to serve as an effective outlet for different feelings that people experience and gradual release of it is able to prevent a collapse (Northrup 55). In other words, social conflict is an irreplaceable tool that serves maintaining the social environment in general and an individual in particular in a balanced state, providing one with a way to get rid of emotions that otherwise would have had a destructive influence on them. That is why the government is desperately trying to provide an effective framework for managing social conflicts. Finally, it may be rather suitable to take a look at the notion in question from a different point of view, namely from in terms of economics. There is no doubt in the fact that companies who operate within the same social environment are engaged in intense competition and are in the state of conflict of their counterparts. Keeping in mind that in Economics various phenomena have numerical values to them, a considerable number of authors tend to point out that social conflicts that have not been settled might have a devastating influence on the economy (Rodrik 385). That is why it would not be a mistake to connect the social growth of a company to lack of conflict within the social environment. In addition to that, the above mentioned phenomenon largely contributes to the necessity to rethink the current system of distribution of wealth (Benhabib and Rustichini 126). An exemplary situation was witnessed in the United States of America recently when the majority of the population was angry with the fact that a small fraction of people in the society enjoyed disproportional wealth, while the rest did not have access to such financial funds. Indeed, they key idea in the Occupy Wall Street movement was the need to redistribute the existing wealth and make sure that on average everyone had a fair share of their social welfare. It is beyond any doubt that social conflict serves as a marker which indicates the current level of equality in the society. Having examined all the evidence which was analyzed in the previous paragraphs, one is able to come to the following logical confusion: social conflict possesses a considerable number of different functions that generally shape the social life. For example, it facilitates the communication between the different parts of the society and enables a person to finds one’s social identity. Moreover, this positive influence is seen on different levels of organization, including children. In addition to that, this phenomenon allows people to express their potential to balance their lives. However, in term of economic development, social conflict might appear to have a rather negative influence unless it is resolved and all the parties who are involved are satisfied with the outcome which requires their consensus. Works cited Benhabib, Jess, and Aldo Rustichini. "Social conflict and growth." Journal of Economic Growth 1.1 (1996): 125-142. Print Brewer, Marilynn B. "The social self: On being the same and different at the same time." Personality and social psychology bulletin 17.5 (1991): 475-482. Print Dillon, Michele. Introduction to Sociological Theory: Theorists, Concepts, and Their Applicability to the Twenty-first Century. Chichester, U.K.: Wiley-Blackwell, 2010. Print. Lasswell, Harold D. "The structure and function of communication in society." The communication of ideas 37 (1948) : 215-228. Print Maynard, Douglas W. "On the Functions of Social Conflict Among Children." American Sociological Review 50.2 (1985): 207-23. Print. Northrup, Terrell A. "The dynamic of identity in personal and social conflict." Intractable conflicts and their transformation 1 (1989): 55-82. Print Rodrik, Dani. "Where Did All the Growth Go? External Shocks, Social Conflict, and Growth Collapses." Journal of Economic Growth 4 (1999): 385-412. Print. "The Functions of Social Conflict." University of Colorado Boulder. Web. 8 Dec. 2014. . Read More