ABSTRACT
The Interdependence of Conflict and Cooperation Greek philosopher Empedocles viewed the universe as dictated by love and hate-
opposites that only exist in relation to each other. Love produces concord and strife
discord, each giving rise to the other in turn. The Chinese concept of the unity of
opposites in yin and yang and Hegel’s dialectic contain similar reasoning. Thus it is for
conflict and cooperation. They are embedded in human nature because the material
and symbolic resources needed for survival and reproductive success, the imperatives of
all sexually reproducing species, are in short supply, and thus there is conflict over
scarce resources among individuals and groups. But because resources are difficult to
secure and interests are difficult to achieve, they are best secured and achieved in
cooperation with others with whom we share a broad consensus about major issues.
Without between-group competition, within-group cooperation would be weak.
Conflict and cooperation thus serve vital interdependent social needs. Cooperation
exists so we may better compete, and conflict exists as a vehicle whereby that which
needs changing is changed.
