Sociologie Românească (May 2009)
Social conflicts in Romania and the EU
Abstract
In this papers we intend to reveal to what extent social relations are conflicting, respectively, consensual in Romanian society. The analysis focuses on Romania but we also make a comparison with European countries. The data are taken from national and international surveys. The analysis shows that Romanian population perceives particularly the existence of vertical conflicts in society like those between the poor and the rich and those between employees and managers. These findings do not justify predictions of the unavoidability of major open social conflicts, but emphasize the characteristics of the social life. The actions required in such cases should be aimed at smoothing the conflicting states in the society. Such measures include targeted public policies as well as a certain behaviour of the social actors and population aiming to enhance consensus, rather than dissensus. This should happen because a society ridden by many conflicts cannot function even though there is no society with no conflicts at all. In this paper we intend to reveal to what extent social relations are conflicting, respectively, consensual in Romanian society. The analysis focuses on Romania but we also make a comparison with European countries. The data are taken from national and international surveys. The analysis shows that Romanian population perceives particularly the existence of vertical conflicts in society like those between the poor and the rich and those between employees and managers. These findings do not justify predictions of the unavoidability of major open social conflicts, but emphasize the characteristics of the social life. The actions required in such cases should be aimed at smoothing the conflicting states in the society. Such measures include targeted public policies as well as a certain behaviour of the social actors and population aiming to enhance consensus, rather than dissensus. This should happen because a society ridden by many conflicts cannot function even though there is no society with no conflicts at all.
