Thesis-ing

Why does conflict play such an essential role in defining the conscienceof a society and its leaders? How do the different roles played by theleaders and followers affect conflict and therefore the conscience of the civilization?

1. it causes different ideas to come up, different options which make people look to themselves and ask, "what do I want?" *presidential elections, different "controversial issues"*
2. it causes factions, which leaders have to deal with to come to a compromise *opposing political parties, different lobbyist groups, special interests groups, conscientious objectors, counterculture of 60's*
3. it makes the society have to work as an entire group, even if it's just people working to oppose each other *mostly the idea of the group focusing in on one topic whichever sides people choose (or not choose)*
4. it causes leaders to have to make decisions about their own motives and desires, and how much of their personal will they impose upon the followers *LBJ deciding to go on with the Vietnam War, Nixon's "peace with honor"/widening scope of war, 60's conflicts, civil rights movement facing opposition from governors, mayors, etc esp. in the South..*
5. it helps the society define the guidelines of 'who controls what?' *three branches of gvt vs. monarchies, constitutional monarchies*

Whenever a society defines and alters its unique sense of conscience, conflict plays an essential role. It acts as a catalytic agent, causing different ideas to manifest, different options to become available, and thus pushing people to decide what their moral boundaries are individually as well as a whole. And because of the individuality that conflicts often highlight, leaders are usually put in the position to facilitate and consequently decide as well how much of their personal motives they allow to affect their role of an "objective leader." Conflict helps us define who we are, what we believe, and how much we are in tune with our leaders in those beliefs.