Where Is the Modern Sociology of Conflict?

Abstract

In the last two or three decades interactional sociology has suffered relative to cultural sociology in the United States. The sciological theory of conflict, for example, remains essentially where Simmel left it; Communists, on the other hand, have assiduously cultivated this field. The comparative neglect of the sociology of conflict may ve for the following reasons: cultural expalnations of sociological phenomena are easier on our own personalities than interactional ones; sociologisthave wished to avoid identification with Marxism or socialism; there is a widespread fear that, if one studies conflict, he is aggravating, advocating, or approving it; powerful fighting organizations do not want to see a science of conflict developed; we do not wish to face the existence of certain conflicts; and, finally, the difficulty in securing adequate data is very great. In spite of these obstacles,the establishment of an Institute of Conflict Analysis is urged for both theoretical and practical purposes.