Distinguishing between the concepts of "war" and "conflict" in theory and practice

Abstract

The article provides a substantive and logical analysis of the fundamental differences between the concepts of «war» and «conflict», which are often mistakenly used as synonyms in public and expert discourse. This conceptual confusion leads to serious diagnostic and management errors, making it difficult to justify the need for different tools to address these phenomena. The research methodology is based on the principles of a meta-subject approach, which makes it possible to integrate knowledge from sociology, political science, philosophy and psychology. The theoretical basis is the methodology of social cognition by A. A. Zinoviev and the system-based research approach by G. P. Shchedrovitsky. If Zinoviev considers conflict as an immanent property of social matter, then for Shchedrovitsky it is a natural and artificial process, the source of the system's development. The article systematically proves that conflict and war are diverse social phenomena. An improperly regulated conflict leads to wars, but war is not a way of resolving conflicts, but rather a destructive force that requires different methods of resolution and settlement.From the point of view of practical implementation, the importance of management in preventing wars and conflicts is emphasized. The final thesis of the article states that an adequate understanding and management of conflicts are the basis of national security and sustainable development in the context of escalating global contradictions.