Civility theory

Summary

Volker von Prittwitz

Civility is mutual respect in shared responsibility.

Actors think and act within more or less civil relational logics and action types. The resulting action processes are fundamentally open; therefore, it is worthwhile to engage socially and politically.

Unilateral relationship logics (interest, power or friend/enemy logic) and action types (negotiation, vertical domination, war) exhibit a comparatively low level of civility, while multilateral logics of mutual commitment, fair procedures of two-dimensional coordination and multidimensional forms of integration exhibit a comparatively high level of civility - see the following table.

All relationship logics and action types can be combined with one another, especially unilateral forms of thought and action on the one hand and multilateral forms of thought and action on the other. Unilateral relationship logics (interest, power, friend/enemy logic) reinforce each other, as do coordination forms of secure and developed civility.

While the general theory of civility contains general concepts, typologies and models, the special theory of civility focuses on specific areas of action, such as law, state, politics, economy, religion, science, play and sport, family and neighborhood.

Here you can freely read and download the theory versions of 2025 (General Theory of Civility), 2023 (General and Special Theory of Civility) and 2018 in PDF format.