Coexistence is the property of things existing at the same time and in a proximity close enough to affect each other, without causing harm to one another. The term is often used with respect to people of different persuasions existing together, particularly where there is some history of

antipathy Antipathy is a dislike for something or somebody, the opposite of sympathy. While antipathy may be induced by experience, it sometimes exists without a rational cause-and-effect explanation being present to the individuals involved. Thus, the ori ...

violence Violence is characterized as the use of physical force by humans to cause harm to other living beings, or property, such as pain, injury, disablement, death, damage and destruction. The World Health Organization (WHO) defines violence a ...

between those groups. Coexistence can be observed to a property of all systems in which different aspects capable of interacting with each other exist at the same time. As one source asserts, "even at the molecular level, existence is always already coexistence". Nonliving things can also be characterized as coexisting where multiple kinds of such things exist in the same space, with the term having been used for things as disparate as different kinds of

dune A dune is a landform composed of wind- or water-driven sand. It typically takes the form of a mound, ridge, or hill. An area with dunes is called a dune system or a dune complex. A large dune complex is called a dune field, while broad, flat ...

s on

Mars Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun. It is also known as the "Red Planet", because of its orange-red appearance. Mars is a desert-like rocky planet with a tenuous carbon dioxide () atmosphere. At the average surface level the atmosph ...

, and

black hole A black hole is a massive, compact astronomical object so dense that its gravity prevents anything from escaping, even light. Albert Einstein's theory of general relativity predicts that a sufficiently compact mass will form a black hole. Th ...

s existing in the same region of space as dense

nuclear star cluster A nuclear star cluster (NSC) or compact stellar nucleus (sometimes called young stellar nucleus) is a star cluster with high density and high luminosity near the center of mass of most galaxies. NSCs are the central massive objects of fainter, l ...

s. Other examples of coexistence include: *

Peaceful coexistence Peaceful coexistence () was a theory, developed and applied by the Soviet Union at various points during the Cold War in the context of primarily Marxist–Leninist foreign policy and adopted by Soviet-dependent socialist states, according to wh ...

, Soviet theory regarding relations between the socialist and capitalist blocs, and more generally the coexistence of different states in the international system * Coexistence of similar

species A species () is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate sexes or mating types can produce fertile offspring, typically by sexual reproduction. It is the basic unit of Taxonomy (biology), ...

in similar environments; see

coexistence theory Coexistence theory is a framework to understand how competitor traits can maintain species diversity and stave-off competitive exclusion even among similar species living in ecologically similar environments. Coexistence theory explains the s ...

* Coexistence of multiple national groups within a polity; see

plurinationalism Plurinationality, plurinational, or plurinationalism is defined as the coexistence of two or more sealed or preserved national groups within a polity (an organized community or body of peoples). In plurinationalism, the idea of nationality is plura ...

Coexistence does not require a complete absence of conflict, but may include "the simultaneous presence of banal tensions and conflicts of interest". Thus, a "minimal level of coexistence is compatible with competition and even conflicts, if conducted through legitimate channels". Cultural Coexistence Theory (CCT), also called Social-ecological Coexistence Theory, expands on

to explain how groups of people with shared interests in natural resources (e.g., a fishery) can come to coexist sustainably. Cultural Coexistence Theory draws on work by anthropologists such as Frederik Barth and John Bennett, both of whom studied the interactions among culture groups on shared landscapes. In addition to the core ecological concepts described above, which CCT summarizes as limited similarity, limited competition, and resilience, CCT argues the following features are essential for cultural coexistence: # ''

Adaptability Adaptability ( "fit to, adjust") is a feature of a system or of a process. This word has been put to use as a specialised term in different disciplines and in business operations. Word definitions of adaptability as a specialised term differ littl ...

'' describes the ability of people to respond to change or surprise. It is essential to CCT because it helps capture the importance of human agency. # ''

Pluralism Pluralism in general denotes a diversity of views or stands, rather than a single approach or method. Pluralism or pluralist may refer more specifically to: Politics and law * Pluralism (political philosophy), the acknowledgement of a diversi ...

'' describes where people value cultural diversity and recognize the fundamental rights of people not like them to live in the same places and access shared resources. # '' Equity'' as used in CCT describes whether social institutions exist that ensure that people's basic human rights, including the ability to meet basic needs, are protected, and whether people are protected from being marginalized in society. Cultural Coexistence Theory fits in under the broader area of

sustainability science Sustainability science first emerged in the 1980s and has become a new academic discipline. Similar to agricultural science or health science, it is an applied science defined by the practical problems it addresses. Sustainability science focuses ...

common pool resources In economics, a common-pool resource (CPR) is a type of good consisting of a natural or human-made resource system (e.g. an irrigation system or fishing grounds), whose size or characteristics makes it costly, but not impossible, to exclude potenti ...

theory, and

conflict theory Conflict may refer to: Social sciences * Conflict (process), the general pattern of groups dealing with disparate ideas * Conflict continuum from cooperation (low intensity), to contest, to higher intensity (violence and war) * Conflict of ...

Religious Coexistence

Different religions have advocated for coexistence between their religion and others.

Coexistence in Islam

There are several verses in the Quran that allude to Muslims living alongside people of other faith: ''"I do not worship what you worship, nor do you worship what I worship. I will never worship what you worship, nor will you ever worship what I worship. You have your way, and I have my Way.” 09:2-6' ''"Let there be no compulsion in religion...." :256' ''"˹In time,˺ Allah may bring about goodwill between you and those of them you ˹now˺ hold as enemies. For Allah is Most Capable. And Allah is All-Forgiving, Most Merciful. Allah does not forbid you from dealing kindly and fairly with those who have neither fought nor driven you out of your homes. Surely Allah loves those who are fair." 0:7-9' Over the course of Islamic history there were several examples of religious coexistence under Muslim rule including during the reign of the Muslims in

Al-Andalus Al-Andalus () was the Muslim-ruled area of the Iberian Peninsula. The name refers to the different Muslim states that controlled these territories at various times between 711 and 1492. At its greatest geographical extent, it occupied most o ...

where Muslims, Jews, and Christians alongside other religious groups lived together. Similarly, during the rule of the Ottoman Empire, non-Muslims were able to live under their own jurisdiction through a system known as the

Millet Millets () are a highly varied group of small-seeded grasses, widely grown around the world as cereal crops or grains for fodder and human food. Most millets belong to the tribe Paniceae. Millets are important crops in the Semi-arid climate, ...

where they would be given a significant amount of autonomy within their own communities and would not be subject to Islamic law.

Coexistence in Buddhism

Buddhism advocates living the Middle Way, where one limits there biases and avoids excluding others. Through the Middle Way, Buddhism advocates that we cannot survive without others and that one should thus work to make positive relations with others. Buddhism also speaks of seeking harmony between self and other and avoiding confrontation by developing peaceful relations between different communities.

References

{{reflist Broad-concept articles Peace and conflict studies Sociology Anthropology