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116 THE ISA HANDBOOK IN CONTEMPORARY SOCIOLOGY

these remarks allow us to note a decisive sudden changes. However, both recognize
characteristic of social life: the consensual that the flexibility of a given societal system
nature of conflict and war, and the antagonis- can induce gradual and/or violent change.
tic nature of order and peace. Aron’s full When we return to current political situa-
meaning is shown in his proposal (1963) of a tions, it is an essential task of international
third alternative to war, namely peace political and social development measures to
through power equilibrium. This situation try to maintain and fortify state structures in
can be explained, on the one hand, by the order to prevent the collapse and the degen-
consensus of power blocs on minimal rules eration of states which may cause political
of behaviour and on limits to spheres of conflicts. Without development, ethnic con-
influence and, on the other hand, by an flicts may not end. Therefore, many states
equilibrium in the possession of weapons are dependent on external aid measures that
of deterrence (for example the Cold War permit them to democratize, decentralize and
situation). demilitarize societies successfully. A desire
Treaties on rules of behaviour may control for self-determination, a lack of opportunities
conflicts and conflicts may have positive for political and economic participation,
consequences for the further existence of a undermining the maintenance of a particular
society; but the history of most societies pro- cultural identity, etc., may cause conflicts
vides many examples that relations between that are expressed in power struggles of com-
members of societies, based on norms, may peting elites for the control of the state and of
be founded on force and rule, and may its material resources. In such situations, the
develop a great potential that can lead to con- cultivation of ethnic and religious identities
flict and change. helps to create images of enemies. Political
To conclude, we are able to show that the- entrepreneurs (two examples are those in the
oreticians of conflict locate the origin of Democratic Republic of Congo and in the
social contradictions, conflicts and social Ivory Coast) do not hesitate to mobilize a
change in the redistribution of power. This politicized ethnicity as an instrument for
may be economic, political or status power, their conquest of power. 4
or the ‘cultural’ power to define goals and
norms. Conflicts between those who control
access to scarce and valuable resources of a On wars and development
society and those who wish to have a greater
share in these resources induce significant Classical theories of war and development
changes. While social structures may be have produced a statistically-based theory
explained by behaviours that result from known as the ‘Phoenix Factor’ (Strakes,
different types of available societal resources, 2006: 1677). This theory states that a country
social change results from movements within that is defeated in a world war will catch up
these possibilities or from preceding con- and eventually overtake the victor as its post-
flicts (Collins, 1975: 61, 89). To simplify, war development accelerates. In the frame-
one could describe non-Marxist theoreticians work of this theory, it is the country’s
of conflict as proponents of a cyclical con- domestic economic performance that is
flict theory, because they consider conflict important for its recovery and not the provi-
and rule of law as universal. By contrast, sion of foreign aid. In fact, this theory may
Marx and his followers present a dynamic apply to the great powerful nations, but not to
and evolutionary conflict theory. They con- the majority of developing countries faced
sider conflicts as necessary for social change. with different structural problems inside and
The first theory speaks of gradual change as outside their region. Conflicts may even be
a consequence of conflicts and the second perpetuated here when there is a lack of
theory sees conflicts as the triggers for effective means of dispute resolution.