Reiner Konflikt und reine Konkurrenz. Simmels Bestimmung des Streits und die Systemtheorie

In the chapter on conflict (Streit) in his Sociology, Simmel examines two social forms, conflict and competition. The article shows that Simmel takes two different paths in determining the pure characteristics of these forms. While he defines “pure conflict” as a factual conflict that is not contaminated by subjective factors such as personality, bribery, etc., he understands “pure competition” in a form-relational way by defining it in terms of competitive relationships that are not overlaid by conflicts. The two approaches lead him to an adequate understanding of pure competition and a misguided concept of pure conflict, which in turn results in an unequal presence of Simmel in the respective sociological traditions. Contemporary competition research has found a solid foundation in Simmel’s reflections on conflict. In contrast, parts of conflict research have turned away from Simmel, including particularly the system-theoretical conflict sociology in the tradition of Luhmann. However, a connection between the two sociological traditions can be re-established.