SOCIAL CONFLICT: TYPES, ELEMENTS AND THE MOST COMMON - CULTURE VOCABULARY - 2025

The social conflict is a problem of great complexity which involved social groups, institutions or government, which have different points of view, which creates a situation of dispute that could end in violent acts.

Some struggles are for beliefs, values, scarce resources, needs, better quality of life, among many others. One party wishes to eradicate the other to achieve its own interests, affecting the structure of society.

Demonstration on September 16, 2017 in Barcelona. Xfigpower / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)

A social conflict is formed according to its nature. The problems can lie in the economy, culture, family, politics and armed forces. The actions of many companies can generate social conflicts. By having objectives and taking specific actions, groups that disagree appear.

Conflicts generated by companies are usually linked to environmental damage, poor management of the public sectors, salaries and labor rights.

Corruption is the second biggest problem in social conflict. Insecurity, poverty, unemployment, drug addiction, prostitution, lack of education and early pregnancy are added to the list.

Each situation of social conflict must be channeled with prudence, to avoid reaching violence.

Most common social conflicts

Hungry

Hunger is one of the main social conflicts in the world. Most of the malnourished people are from Africa, women and children.

6,923 million people suffer from lack of food, although the European Union and the United States send food to countries regularly.

Many countries generate large amounts of money and wealth. However, many people live in extreme poverty.

Lack of productive potential

The main causes are the lack of productive potential, since it is not possible to live only on natural resources. This mainly affects large populations.

These present problems of drought, floods, ineffective exploitation of resources, problems of lag in technology, and others.

Wars

Wars are part of social conflicts. Developing countries suffer from serious corruption problems. This results in civil wars, religious wars, among others.

Some world powers intervene to prevent wars. At the same time they contribute medical supplies and food in order to help the affected villages.

Today there are still wars supported by the United States, China, Russia, and other countries.

Poverty

Poverty is one of the most complex problems in many third world countries.

These regions are characterized by rapid population growth, a high percentage of illiteracy, a lack of educational infrastructure, low labor productivity and few resources.

In addition, they have little industrial development. This leads to low exports and external debts.

Corruption

Corruption is a political phenomenon that generates discomfort in the population, especially when there are times of crisis. Access to political power generates freedom that without responsibility can lead to decision-making for their own benefit, instead of the common good.

Social differences between men and women

One of the social conflicts that has occurred most in the last decade is due to social differences between men and women; salary, work at home, job opportunities, security, machismo, gender violence…

Elements of social conflict

Actors of the conflict

One of the main elements are the actors who are directly in conflict over their ideals. From a problem that is generated by differences, each party acts based on their interests or beliefs, regardless of the consequences.

Dialogue

Solutions can be found through dialogue between the parties, but both groups must agree to participate to resolve their differences.

Mediator

Under a mediator or facilitator, which can be the state itself, a direct negotiation can be reached.

The processes that are most likely to be successful are those that are legitimate, collaborative, and effective.

Types

Functional

Within the types of social conflicts, are functional conflicts.

These are the ones that occur with the greatest intensity. However, it maintains and improves the problem situation between both parties. That is, it is a conflict that ends up being beneficial.

Functional conflicts belong to the group of conflicts that favor the resolution of other problems.

In addition, they help to drain tensions, promote the analysis that leads to change and possible solutions, it is adaptable, it helps in decision-making and, in turn, it encourages teamwork.

Dysfunctional

On the other hand, dysfunctional conflicts are those that limit and prevent harmony in the development of a company, group or sector of the state.

This type of conflict creates violence, affecting the emotional and physical balance of those involved. Creativity, productivity, and personal activities also decrease.

Authors perspective

Thomas Hobbes

The main visions of social conflict lie in the studies of the sociologist Thomas Hobbes.

Hobbes highlights that society is constantly changing, and is made up of contradictory elements that generate needs, instability, violence and abuse of power.

Ralf Dahrendorf

On the other hand, the sociologist and philosopher Ralf Dahrendorf has contributed to the sociology of conflicts by designing a theoretical model where he explains the origin of social conflicts and the causes. His vision clarifies the existence of the social system integrated with the conflict.

Lewis cosser

In turn, the sociologist Lewis Cosser argues that social conflict is considered a functional model and that it maintains the system. Thus, society is a whole where each part develops according to its activities.

Differences with social violence

Conflict and violence are not the same thing. The first is the axis that causes the problem, and the second ends up being a consequence of specific actions or measures, which trigger specific events and attacks.

In addition, there are latent conflicts that are characterized by their anonymity. That is, they are not openly cited, but remain hidden, causing a collision course.

Finally, there are the resolved conflicts that consist of the cases approved by both parties, reaching an agreement through commitments, judicial or administrative resolutions, among others.

Mutual approval restores the links between the parties in conflict.

References

1. Mason, WA Primate Social Conflict. Taken from books.google.com.
2. Marks, Z. Poverty and conflict. Taken from gsdrc.org.
3. What is the functionalist perspective in sociology? Taken from cliffsnotes.com.
4. Messer, M. Conflict as a cause of hunger. Taken from archive.unu.edu.
5. Stewart, F. Root causes of violent conflict in developing countries. Taken from ncbi.nlm.nih.gov.