54
3 Social Forces
So why does such retaliation cause an escalation rather than a calming of hostilities? This occurs because both sides think their actions are right. In fact, they are
applying sanctioning mechanisms that are intended to create social order, but these
mechanisms are only suited for a mono-cultural context.
3.17 Punishment Doesn’t Always Work
To understand the problem better, we must ask the question: “Why do we punish
others?” This has a simple reason: we have learned that punishment can establish
and stabilize social norms. Therefore, who doesn’t follow our norms is usually sanctioned. But such punishment is only effective, if it is accepted by the punished party.
Otherwise this party will strike back and inflict revenge, which escalates the conflict.
Therefore, it is important to recognize that punishment is only effective if people
share the same values, norms and culture.
In multi-cultural settings, punishment is often not suited to create social order.
Under such circumstances, however, it might be possible to reduce the level of conflict
by physically separating the opposing parties so that they live in different areas.
62
Another option is to develop a culture of tolerance, understanding and respect. In
fact, as we will see later, there are many social mechanisms that foster social order,
such as reputation systems, for example. I am confident, therefore, that a deeper
understanding of the mechanisms and forces producing conflicts will eventually
help us to overcome or mitigate them. In a multi-cultural world, I would strongly
recommend to move away from a punitive culture. Instead, it seems more promising to
engage with each other in a differentiated, reputation-based culture in which diversity
is welcomed.
63 This brings us to another important set of invisible factors, which
determines the success of societies, namely “social capital”.
3.18 Why “Social Capital” Is so Terribly Important
Most of us have probably heard the proverb that “money makes the world go round”,
but there are other, intangible factors that matter. For example, human capital (like
education) can boost individual careers, and social capital can act like a catalyst of
socio-economic success. But what is social capital? I define it as everything that
results from interactions within a social network which could potentially (be used
to) create benefits. Examples include cooperativeness, public safety, a culture of
punctuality, reputation, trust, power, and respect. However, while our own actions
influence our social capital, we can’t fully control it. This is in contrast to money.
62 Bhavnani et al. [44].
63 We will discuss this further in Chap. 8: How Society Works.
3 Social Forces
So why does such retaliation cause an escalation rather than a calming of hostilities? This occurs because both sides think their actions are right. In fact, they are
applying sanctioning mechanisms that are intended to create social order, but these
mechanisms are only suited for a mono-cultural context.
3.17 Punishment Doesn’t Always Work
To understand the problem better, we must ask the question: “Why do we punish
others?” This has a simple reason: we have learned that punishment can establish
and stabilize social norms. Therefore, who doesn’t follow our norms is usually sanctioned. But such punishment is only effective, if it is accepted by the punished party.
Otherwise this party will strike back and inflict revenge, which escalates the conflict.
Therefore, it is important to recognize that punishment is only effective if people
share the same values, norms and culture.
In multi-cultural settings, punishment is often not suited to create social order.
Under such circumstances, however, it might be possible to reduce the level of conflict
by physically separating the opposing parties so that they live in different areas.
62
Another option is to develop a culture of tolerance, understanding and respect. In
fact, as we will see later, there are many social mechanisms that foster social order,
such as reputation systems, for example. I am confident, therefore, that a deeper
understanding of the mechanisms and forces producing conflicts will eventually
help us to overcome or mitigate them. In a multi-cultural world, I would strongly
recommend to move away from a punitive culture. Instead, it seems more promising to
engage with each other in a differentiated, reputation-based culture in which diversity
is welcomed.
63 This brings us to another important set of invisible factors, which
determines the success of societies, namely “social capital”.
3.18 Why “Social Capital” Is so Terribly Important
Most of us have probably heard the proverb that “money makes the world go round”,
but there are other, intangible factors that matter. For example, human capital (like
education) can boost individual careers, and social capital can act like a catalyst of
socio-economic success. But what is social capital? I define it as everything that
results from interactions within a social network which could potentially (be used
to) create benefits. Examples include cooperativeness, public safety, a culture of
punctuality, reputation, trust, power, and respect. However, while our own actions
influence our social capital, we can’t fully control it. This is in contrast to money.
62 Bhavnani et al. [44].
63 We will discuss this further in Chap. 8: How Society Works.