The Return of Gewalt: Mirroring the Twentieth Century in Contemporary Times

Abstract

This contribution examines the concept of ‘power’ starting from the historical-conceptual perspective of Karl-Georg Faber, Karl-Heinz Ilting, and Christian Meier in the analysis of the terms Macht, Gewalt found in the Geschichtliche Grundbegriffe, edited by Reinhart Koselleck, Otto Brunner, and Werner Conze. The work contains the analysis of 122 terms, not only from a historical perspective but also highlighting the philosophical, legal, and economic aspects behind each term. It is considered one of the standard tools in academic studies in German-speaking countries. However, as only a few terms have been translated into other languages, the full utilization of this tool is unfortunately limited to scholars who can understand the German language.
The two main aspects of power examined here are precisely those of Macht and Gewalt, and their analysis and understanding are useful in highlighting how these two dimensions never completely overlap in history and the changing of societies but rather influence each other over time.
The contribution also examines the transition from Great Powers to World Powers during the 20th century. This shift led to the emergence of global powers that exercise their Macht internationally, influencing global relations, the world economy, and global stability. However, the exercise of this power can also involve forms of Gewalt that threaten international peace and stability. The last century was characterized by wars, revolutions, and large-scale violence, in which Gewalt was often used as a means to acquire and maintain power.
Despite the optimistic narrative that followed the end of the Cold War, the contribution emphasizes that the dimension of conflict and power in its most violent manifestations is far from disappeared. The case of the Russo Ukrainian conflict demonstrates that Gewalt is still a reality, with significant regional and global implications. Violence and armed conflict can still emerge as means to exercise power, and geopolitical dynamics continue to influence international relations. Hence, the need for a philosophical reflection that, in debating the nature of ‘power’ and its manifestations, does not solely focus on its disciplinary dimension and social control, seemingly unaware that Macht and Gewalt are two sides of the same coin, existentially interconnected and both integral parts of human political history.

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