Theoretical and methodological analysis of Western conflict studies in the 19th-20th centuries

Abstract

The article discusses several broad concepts, firstly, the concept of "political conflict", which the authors understand as the identification or detection of a confrontation between two or more actors (individuals, groups, socio-political communities, states), debating and opposing each other on the issue of the division and retention of political power and power resources. Secondly, the "phenomena of the positive and negative impact of political conflicts" on the political system of the state, which make it possible to clarify the very concept of "political conflict" from the standpoint of a theoretical and methodological analysis of Western political science. Currently, civilization is in a state of fierce struggle for resources and influence, and the transition to a multipolar world model after the collapse of the USSR has led not only to ideological diversity and the formation of isolated centers of political power, but also to increased competition and confrontation. The consumer society has expanded the comfort zone for our contemporaries, people have become very sensitive to the slightest deviations from the usual norms of satisfying their needs, which are not only growing intensively, but also differentiating. A larger volume of consumption inevitably entails a larger volume of production, and consequently a larger amount of resource expenditure (more raw materials, fuel, energy, finance, human labor, etc.). The increasing costs require immediate compensation, which naturally leads to the incitement of political conflicts, as a result of which the parties pursue their political and economic interests.