The Social Conflict

Social conflicts, as a universal phenomenon, has existed since the beginning of our human society and exerted significant influences on social evolution. A theoretical study of social conflicts will lend itself to a better understanding and application of historical materialism on the hand , and to an overall perception of social conflicts of Chinese as veil. Based on historical materiaLism and examined from an integral view-point of historical materialis, and sociology, this paper a~roaches social conflicts from 5 aspects.l)Definition, structure and feature. With a new definition and a static and dynamic analysis of its structure, this paper argues for such features as universality, complexity, variety and temporariness.2)Possible types. A classification is made in terms of subject, intensity, field, and purpose.3)Different sources. This paper identifies the general source as the contradiction between productive forces and relation as veil as that between economic foundation and social superstructure. Its basic sources include difference and confront of profits, seizing and abusing of power, inequality, and unjust competition, value divergence and social misunderstanding.4)Varlous functions. Suggesting 3 perspectives for conflict examination, this paper dwells on both positive and negative sides of social conflict.5)Reconciliation and control. Chief methods raised in this paper include reconciliation of benefits, coinmun cation, compromise and social arbitration. A discuss is made of structures, principles, procedures and manners of social control.