Conflict Research as a Basis for Socio-Pedagogical Violence Prevention

Abstract

Weber, Simmel and Coser classify conflicts as constitutive for groups as well as for social developments. Social conflicts can then have both in-tegrative and disintegrative effects. These sociological findings seem to contradict the mostly negative connotation of conflict today. Con-flicts are almost exclusively perceived as unpleasant and disturbing and are therefore more likely to be avoided. Following Simmel's under-standing, the term 'offensive conflict management' is used here. A reac-tivation of this historical understanding of the term is necessary in a time when we are dealing with the paradox that the more peaceful and ci-vilised our everyday life is, the less practised our ability to deal with conflicts seems to be.