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Conflict, Competition

and Cooperation: Means

and Stratagems for Shaping

Social Reality in the Twenty-

First Century

Ann Denis and Devorah Kalekin-Fishman 1

The three terms which are part of the title of were asked to reflect on cooperation, compe-
the Handbook and appear at the head of this tition and conflict in sociology. The collec-
chapter represent a classical view of how to tion of papers that was chosen for this
categorize different kinds of social relations. Handbook provides evidence of how ubiqui-
In compiling the articles in this collection, tous the three focal processes are, how diverse
we have discovered that they are not only the modes of entry into the study of society
conceptual instruments with the aid of which and how closely linked sociology as a disci-
sociologists practice their discipline. They pline is to the political and economic features
also have a wider usage as faithful reflections of its subject matter. Thus, conflict, competi-
of what goes on in sociology and as bases for tion and cooperation are indeed the basic
coping with the mounting number of ques- means and stratagems that underlie the mis-
tions that arise in the social world. sion of sociology in the twenty-first century.
Furthermore, conceptualizations of conflict,
competition and cooperation are indications
of how to find solutions to social problems.
As noted in the ‘Introduction’, this volume CONFLICT, COMPETITION AND
is based on discussions that took place at a COOPERATION EVERYWHERE
Research Council conference at which repre-
sentatives from the Research Committees of Beyond the request to include some reference
the International Sociological Association to the processes of cooperation, competition,