The Cognition of Conflict: Ontology, Dynamics, and Ideology - Conflict and Multimodal Communication: Social Research and Machine Intelligence - page 28

with the aggregation of collective subjects or actors, including classes, groups, and
movements) since any given change affects some established interest or power, some
common sense or prejudice. To change, we must fight.
The individual fights in order to defend his rights or against abuses or to gain new
rights. At the collective level, groups and classes associate and cooperate against
some adversary group or class in order to acquire new powers and rights.
“We should reevaluate conflict, since without conflicts there is no social justice”
(Pierre Carniti, Italian trade unionist).

1.9.1.2 Emancipation and Empowerment

There are powers that in principle cannot be given, where real empowerment is not
a received, subordinated, passive process or position.
Some powers can only be actively acquired by an individual: for example,
skills, control over emotions, self-confidence, sense of autonomy, the capability of
reclaiming rights. Some powers must necessarily be grabbed, taken in opposition;
they require fighting for a subtraction of power, for seizing power from and
against Y.
This power cannot be given/granted because the meaning of the act would be
self-defeating, contradictory. There would be another result.
For example, the power to violate norms, the power to stand up for oneself, to not
be submissive and passive. This applies to emancipation movements for respect and
dignity, against stigmas, antidiscrimination, for pride. And it also is the case of the
physiological journey of adolescents “against” their parents. In fact, c onflicts can
be educational , aimed at growth and self-esteem; they educate one about conflict,
autonomy, and rights. Parents, educators, mentors, and others are faced with the
difficult task of sustaining and even eliciting conflicts (against paternalism and
similar attitudes).
In general, p ower over Y and the power to influence or manipulate Ymayin
and of itself elicit Y's opposition, a conflicting attitude, a tendency to exit from that
situation or to rebel. This is a natural and not necessarily bad impulse; order is not
always good in itself.

1.9.1.3 Science

Science and research are based on conflict : criticism, falsification, opposition, and
fights over different theses, not (only) for personal motives, prestige, gain, or other
reasons but as a rule of the game, that is, for a better collective result, for a sort of
conflicting cooperation, for stronger and validated theories.