Defi ning social conflict as the highest stage of development of contradictions in relations between people, groups, etc., it is possible to demonstrate both its negative and potentially positive effect. A democratic regime is characterized by the specific nature of the organization of its social relations. A set of rights and civil liberties inherent in democratic states in fact makes it possible both to broaden the spectrum of conflict situations and abet the growth of contradictions. With the development of democratic mechanisms and the emergence of an increasing number of civil institutions, the involvement of society in political processes increases in proportion to the growth of conflict in these societies — making it possible to speak of a certain interdependence among these phenomena. The most pressing issue is the identification of a format for the regulation of social conflict under which a democratic state can receive the greatest positive effect from the events taking place within it.