Introduction
To begin with, it is necessary to mention that any social conflict, independently of the way of manifesting (violent or non-violent means), generally occurs because of extremely different views and agendas among people with various social-political, and financial identities. Social change is often regarded as the concept which can signify strategies, aims, and results of socio-political transformative projects. It is essential to emphasize that even the struggle against modification originates its types of modifications and social conflicts.
This paper aims to think critically on the matters of social conflicts, the approaches towards the conflicts by society. The matter of social conflict will be argued and described from the viewpoint of its understanding, acceptance, and how these matters depend on the notions of individualism and universal truth and the inevitability of progress toward predetermined outcomes.
Generally speaking, social conflict is not restricted to violent or hostile opposition; it is not a clash of coercive power as it is often regarded. The conflict of intellectual forces may be manifested by the means of debating, disputing, etc, though it may proceed to obliging, exchanging, and dickering.
Description
The contemporary issue, which involves social conflict, and which may be taken as an example, is gay marriage. Originally, this issue arises too much confrontation, as the rate of homophobes is rather huge in contemporary society. It is closely linked with religious views and prejudice towards sexual minorities. The evaluation of this problem from an individualistic point of view always depends on the personal perception and experience of every individual. The individualistic approach is widely spread in contemporary society, as most people do not wish to take into account the points of view expressed by other people, and consider that their opinion is the only correct. Surely, these people are the basis of any social conflict, especially if their opinions are extremely different. Thus, some people consider that gay marriages are a common and natural thing; others claim these marriages were forbidden. This is the essence of the individualistic approach.
As for the issue of universal truth, it is necessary to mention the following notion: it is said that there are no absolutes that can define reality and give the only correct point of view. Those who support this point of view consider that everything is relative to something else, and there is absolutely no actual reality, and there is no definite answer on such arguing issues as gay marriage. On the one hand, these people seem not to have their firm point of view, on the other hand, it reveals the principle of objectivity “if stars are lit, someone needs it”. Originally, this approach leads to the appearance of “Situational ethics”, when rightness or wrongness is defined according to the circumstances. On the other hand, such situational ethics leads to a subjective notion of “whatever feels good” mentality and lifestyle, which has an immense impact on society and personality. Such an approach towards arguing issues is attributable to a postmodern society, which regards all values, beliefs, views, and lifestyles equally valid. Thus, No one who reads the newspaper today can deceive himself about the entwinement of productivity and destructivity. The intellectual situation has changed as well. Postmodernism has disarmed the self-understanding of modernity…. Perhaps we need a renovated language after all so that the pressure to conform to functional imperatives does not lead us to forget this normative viewpoint. (Habermas, 1998; in Kellner, 2001, p. 237)
Description of the Issue
To begin with, it is necessary to emphasize that the issue of gay marriages may be regarded from the viewpoints of three social perspectives: constructionist, critical, and/or postmodernist.
Constructionist approach
The constructionist theory claims the following: Sex and gender can not exist without social interaction as these two concepts arise from social interaction principles, and they do not take their basis in “nature”, which is also determined by society. The constructive evaluation of sex and gender are often regarded as invisible due to the normal functioning of social life, so these notions look natural. The same can be said of gay marriages, as gays have become the common social position in most western countries. Despite the growth of homophobia, the amount of people, tolerant of gays is also increasing (supporters and sympathetic). The constructivist theory itself points out the existence of two chromosomal (biological) sexes as a part of social construction. This is the essence of the relational description, and it is argued that the relational approach is the most progressive in solving the issues of gay marriages and same-sex love in general. However, people often relate constructionism to social psychological theory. Scott’s (1997) theory argues that males and females behave as they do because society has taught them to behave this way. The same is stated about gays: they behave sp not because of inborn pathology, but because the surrounding, they were growing in taught them to behave this way.
Criticism
The critical approach is constantly losing its positions, as lobbying of the interests of gays has become the powerful trump in the hands of politicians, who seek support and try to enlarge their voters. Originally, the critical approach entails Deconstruction, Disciplinary Regimes, False consciousness, the critique of ideology, the Warfare State, and some others. The name of the approach “Critical” says for itself that the followers of this concept do not support gay marriages and any representations of same-sex love. Criticism followers give their weighty arguments, and never take unchecked statements on their belief. They consider, that if the society has grown up gays, it will be able to re-educate them. The means, which may be used for re-education, are numerous: from labor therapy to pursuit and physical elimination. Surely, some of these approaches are no humanistic; however, criticism has never been humanistic, and always claimed for radical means. (Kellner, 1984) The fact is that all the followers of criticism believe, that gays and open permission of gay marriages badly influences the allover social situation, and, especially the views of future generations. That is why, if it is impossible to eliminate sodomy, it should not be widely permitted at least.
Postmodernist perspective
Social postmodernism claims for the defense of postmodern perspective closely linked with the politics of new social movements. Social postmodernism as a notion preserves the concentration on the political processes linked with the issues of body and dignity, race and religion, gender and sexuality. However, these issues promote postmodern analysis in the special direction; toward social postmodernism that generally incorporates the micro-social concepts of innovative social movements with the cultural analysis in the process of political vision transformation. (Scott, 1997) Originally, this view is claimed to emphasize the simulacra and hyper-reality perspectives, as the necessity to transform the political processes and the vision of the problems, which are closely linked with political decisions, often requires the application of the hyper-realistic approach.
Alternative approaches
Taking into account the probability that the described above standard approaches will not be working, there is a strong necessity to define some alternative approaches of evaluating the problems of social conflicts. The first sphere of social practice which supports containment is the nature of democracy in the capitalist community. Originally, the free and painless solution to any social conflict is possible only in a democratic society. The nature of democracy as a paradigm has always been a tension between citizen self-realization and governmental representation. Originally, democracy itself is not a solution. It is just the background for providing the necessary tools and instruments which promote and simplify the solution of social conflicts. Thus, democracy, sovereignty, and openness of society for social changes, and acceptance of a new paradigm is a universal background for solving social conflicts, however, it is impossible to make all these three factors coincide in time and location. Thus, social conflicts are inevitable, especially, if the reason for such conflicts is matters of social, sexual, or political discrimination. The alternative approach here should be based on smoothing the reasons for the conflict, and arranging literacy and tolerance campaigns.
Discourse and emancipation
Originally, the disputes over gay marriage have become and all over, and, mainly virtual obsession of the mass media in democratic states. Most of the TV talk shows have been full of arguments for and against gay marriages and same-sex love between liberal reformers and Christian conservatives. From the Marxist point of view, it is necessary to mention that while the often bigoted and hate-inspired arguments of the conservative foes of the ay marriage-which claim that homosexuality is a perverse lifestyle whose legal recognition will further erode the moral fiber of the nation-are easy to reject, the often inspired and passionate arguments of liberal reformers for granting the right to same-sex marriage are not so simple to evaluate. (Box, 2002)
Originally, Marx and Engels had never dealt with the issues of homosexuality, however, their political considerations could be easily applied to the matters of gay marriages that we have today. In the middle of the XIX century, when the Jewish question was heating up, and the issues of political emancipation were becoming increasingly popular, Marx invented his approach of deep criticism of bourgeois society. Thus, in his Jewish Question (1844), he opposes the faulty method of the Young Hegelian philosophers who regarded Jewish emancipation only through the prism of politics, as the right to complete protection of the law and participation in the civil life of the society. For Marx, political emancipation was the first step towards general and ultimate human emancipation. He promoted legal equality, which was aimed to enforce the ideological basis of emancipation and prevent social degradation and dehumanization of bourgeois (=democratic) civil society. Thus, emancipation and insistent discourses may be regarded as one of the most effective approaches for solving social conflicts. Moreover, these methods may be useful for society, according to Marx. (Fraser, 1997)
Affirmation and transformation
One of the psychoanalytical approaches to solving any conflict is to change the attitude towards the problem. Transformation of the problem representation will change the attitude towards it. Thus, the issue of transformation may be connected with the issues of political and social emancipation, and the allover process should be represented as the necessity to follow the progressive tendencies aimed at social transformations and preventing social degradation. Simple prohibition will cause a wave of protests. It fully contradicts the principles of political realism, and even conservative politicians should take this notion into account.
Dialogic approaches
A dialogic approach is a powerful tool for getting acquainted with the audience. Originally, wide dialogue helps to find out the aims, the possibilities, and the weak point of the opposite side. On the other hand, it is a great opportunity to gain consent.
Comparing
Traditional approaches are suitable for settling any social conflict only until the conflict is traditional. On the one hand, the issues of homosexuality are not new in the world, however, the wide publicity of this problem made the representatives of numerous parties retort to negotiations and discussions. Neither individualistic nor constructivist approaches do not seem to help solve the issues of same-sex love, as these paradigms are suitable only for wide and deep confrontation, while homosexuals live among us. Emancipation, the transformation of the views, and dialogs are the most progressive tools for gaining any equality.
References
Box, R. C. (2002). Pragmatic discourse and administrative legitimacy. American Review of Public Administration, 32, 20–39.
Fraser, N. (1997). Justice interruptus: Critical reflections on the “postsocialist” condition. New York: Routledge.
Gergen, K. J. (1999). An invitation to social construction. London: Sage Publications.
Kellner, D. (1984). Herbert Marcuse and the crisis of Marxism. London: MacMillan.
Scott, F. E. (1997). Postmodern discourse and a postconventional public administration: Is there a normative theory beyond the dichotomy? Administrative Theory & Praxis, 19, 58-72.