Conflict and Resolution (Includes Comments on The Russia-Ukraine War)

Obregon, Carlos (2002): Conflict and Resolution (Includes Comments on The Russia-Ukraine War). Published in:

Abstract

As I am writing this book, Russia is invading Ukraine, and the world’s beliefs in global institutions, peace, humanism, and social progress have been shaken again. Understanding why conflict is endemic to any social relation, under which conditions it is a positive element in social life, and when it becomes a negative one, is the main purpose of this manuscript. The answer, we argue, lies in the institutional social setting within which conflict occurs. Some settings are favorable to guide conflict into a constructive process of social change; others may induce conflict to create social retrogression and/or destruction. Moreover, the answer must be given in a dynamic setting, a conflict that may appear retrograde or destructive in a static setting may actually be constructive in a dynamic one. The main thesis in this manuscript is that in any human interaction there may be a positive dynamic towards conflict resolution, in which everybody ends up better off (when mutual belonging can develop), or one in which someone, or even everybody, ends up worse off (when coercive aggression is the preferred route for the resolution). Furthermore, that conflict resolution can be improved substantially if it is analyzed in a dynamic context. Conflict is a complex social phenomenon which is required for proper social change, and that has to be understood through an interdisciplinary approach. In here we use an evolutionary perspective supported by the most recent scientific discoveries in economics, neurobiology, psychology, sociology, and political science. In the last chapter we explain the multifactorial causes of the Russia-Ukraine war.

• Item Type: MPRA Paper
• Language: English
• Keywords: Russia, Ukraine, War, Conflict, peace, humanism, social progress, social relation, social change, economics, neurobiology, psychology, sociology, political science
• Subjects: F - International Economics > F0 - General; F - International Economics > F0 - General > F01 - Global Outlook; F - International Economics > F0 - General > F02 - International Economic Order and Integration; F - International Economics > F2 - International Factor Movements and International Business; F - International Economics > F2 - International Factor Movements and International Business > F20 - General; F - International Economics > F2 - International Factor Movements and International Business > F22 - International Migration; F - International Economics > F2 - International Factor Movements and International Business > F29 - Other; F - International Economics > F3 - International Finance > F30 - General; F - International Economics > F3 - International Finance > F32 - Current Account Adjustment ; Short-Term Capital Movements; F - International Economics > F3 - International Finance > F36 - Financial Aspects of Economic Integration; H - Public Economics > H0 - General > H00 - General; H - Public Economics > H5 - National Government Expenditures and Related Policies > H50 - General; H - Public Economics > H5 - National Government Expenditures and Related Policies > H55 - Social Security and Public Pensions; H - Public Economics > H5 - National Government Expenditures and Related Policies > H56 - National Security and War; H - Public Economics > H6 - National Budget, Deficit, and Debt > H60 - General; K - Law and Economics > K0 - General > K00 - General; L - Industrial Organization > L0 - General > L00 - General

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