Civility theory

Summary

Volker von Prittwitz

Actors think and act, in principle, freely and independently of their own worldview and situational perspective. Therefore, processes in which actors interact with one another are fundamentally open; it is worthwhile to engage socially and politically.

How actors view the world corresponds to characteristic relational logics, such as the logic of interest, power, or friend/enemy, the logic of mutual commitment, or combinations thereof. In these logics and corresponding forms of action such as integration, procedure, negotiation, domination, or war, the participants respect each other with varying degrees of shared responsibility (civility). This gives rise to different levels of civility – see the following table.

According to this typology of civility, all variables in society and politics can be interrelated. Thus, variables at certain levels of civility reinforce each other (for example, transcendent religion and power-based rule). Forms of action that permanently lower the given level of civility harm the common good. Those who act at an excessively high level of civility are acting unrealistically and risk being cruelly punished. Those who undermine a given level of civility (for example, doping or corruption) are acting opportunistically and irresponsibly. Civility theory can thus provide explanations and guidance.

While the general theory of civility contains general concepts, typologies and models, the special theory of civility focuses on particular areas of action, such as law, state, politics, economy, religion, science, games and sports, family and neighbourhood - contributions to a universal social and political science.

Civility theory was first introduced in 2018 as the theory of civil modernity and has been continuously developed since then. You can freely read and download the 2025 (General Civility Theory), 2023 (General and Special Civility Theory), and 2018 versions of the theory in PDF format.