Mechanism of readjustment

1. Conflicts and Social Structuresaccording to Lewis A. Coser, The Functions of Social Conflict, 1956Rigid Systems Hostile feelings P. 79: “Rigid systems, such as contemporary totalitarian societies, may succeed (…) in partly canalizinghostile feelings through safety-valve institutions such as institutionalized anti-semitism or xenophobia. However, their lack of mechanisms for readjustment to changed conditions permits the accumulation of occasions for conflict and hence of hostilities which may eventually directly threaten consensual agreement.” Rigid Systems canalized Safety valve institutions Realistic conflict (Non realistic)conflict Consensual agreement threatened Mechanism of readjustment

2. Conflicts and Social Structuresaccording to Lewis A. Coser, The Functions of Social Conflict, 1956Open Societies Hostile feelings P. 79: “Flexible systems, on the contrary, by allowing occurences of conflict, make the danger of breakdowns of consensual agreements remote. If this is the case, the expression and acting out of hostile feelings through conflict leads to mutual and unilateral accomodation and adjustments between component parts.” P. 154: “In loosely structured groups and open societies, conflict, which aims at a resolution of tension between abtagonists, is likely to have stabilizing and integrative functions for the relationship. By permitting immediate and direct expression of rival claims, such social systems are able to readjust their structures by eliminating the sources of dissatisfaction. The multiple conflicts which they experience may serve to eliminate the causes for dissociation and to reestablish unity. These systems avail themselves, through the toleration of conflict, of an important stabilizing mechanism.” Permitting the direct expresssion of rival claims Open society allowing Realistic conflict Mechanism of readjustment Stabilizing and integrative functions Reestablish unity