Political Systems and Conflict Management

Abstract

Political systems, when viewed as black boxes, handle conflict inputs in ways that produce outputs that affect attitudes of trust as well as the structural aspects of institutions. The black box itself acts as a marketplace for transactions in political currencies. There is historical evidence that certain patterns of transaction promote transitions from warfare to less violent institutional arrangements, particularly by strengthening competitive political party systems. The system's transactions may also, through structural changes, advance institutional integration by socializing members, formalizing offices, or modifying circumstances of incumbency. Political conflict is at the core of every political system. Political conflicts exist between citizens, social groups, political representatives, and political parties. In a representative democracy, societal conflicts are expected to be carried on at the parliamentary floor where the political parties are the typical conflicting sides' carriers of the beliefs, ideas, and values.