Topique de la polemologie

In: Res publica: politiek-wetenschappelijk tijdschrift van de Lage Landen ; driemaandelijks tijdschrift, Band 19, Heft 1, S. 43-70

Abstract

The background & underlying concepts of polemology are discussed. Polemology is most simply defined as "the science of conflict." The concerns of sociology since its founding in the ninteenth century have been tied to the desire to establish a stable & equitable social order. Polemology has opened new avenues of exploration for sociology. The relation between polemology & Marxism is discussed. The schema of class conflict forms an integral part of polemology. Methodology in this relatively new field is discussed. One major problem is the determination of a definition of the concept of conflict. In the strict etymological sense, the word denotes an encounter which produces an impact. Two living entities must be involved--the encounter of a man & a rock, or even a man & an animal, cannot be defined as "conflict." The concept is characterized by the desire to destroy, tied with manifest aggression. War is a specific type of conflict which pits political entities against one another in a power contest. By means of war, a collectivity may justify the principles which give unity to its existence. The right to wage war is fundamental to the existence of an independent political entity. Politics entails the risk of other types of violence than war. Aggression may be manifested in the form of strikes, plotting, rebellion, armed insurrection, & even open revolution. The study of polemology covers war, peace, & all societal conflicts, whether or not they are violent. The flaw in such pacifistic theories is the failure to recognize the existence of the enemy. In polemology the consideration of peace includes, rather than excludes, the enemy, since failure to recognize the enemy's existence eventually results in recourse to violence either in the form of war or of political repression. B. Annesser.