Modeling conflict in a social system using diffusion equations. (December 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Yurevich, Petukhov Alexander; Olegovich, Malkhanov Alexey; Mikhailovich, Sandalov Vladimir; Vasilievich, Petukhov Yuri
• Is Part Of: Simulation. Volume 94:Number 12(2018)
• Page Start: 1053
• Page End: 1061
• Publication Date: 2018-12
• Subjects: Communication field -- diffusion equations -- Langevin equation -- social conflict -- society; Computer simulation -- Periodicals; 003.3
• DOI: 10.1177/0037549718761573
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0037-5497

Abstract

In this paper the problem of modeling social conflicts of various types with the help of diffusion equations is discussed. The main approaches to and methods of mathematical modeling in contemporary humanitarian sciences are outlined. The main concepts of social conflicts, means of their classification and interpretation – including ethnic-social, religious, and other conflicts – are considered. The notion of a conflict in a social system is defined in terms of mathematical modeling. A model based on the Langevin diffusion equation is introduced. The model is based on the idea that all individuals in a society interact by means of a communication field. This field is induced by each individual in the society and forms informational interaction between individuals. An analytical solution of the system of equations is given in the first approximation for a diverging type of diffusion. It is shown that even for a simple case of the interaction of two groups of individuals the developed model makes it possible to discover characteristic laws of a conflict in a social system. It allows determining the effect of social distance in a society on the conditions of generation of such processes, with account of external effects or a random factor. Based on the analysis of the phase portraits for the given system, it has been concluded that there exists a stability region within which the social system is stable and non-conflicting.