In a democratic society, conflict is inevitable. It is inherent and sometimes necessary. This is because we are free to have individual viewpoints and ideas. Viewpoints and ideas may stem from family values we were raised with, religious beliefs, or ethnic backgrounds. Viewpoints often vary depending on geographic locations as well. A good example of this the phrase "Every coin has two sides." The difference is that when you are dealing with government and politics, the coin is many faceted.
Conflict needs to be solved in a peaceful manner. This is accomplished through compromise and decision-making. On a National level, we rely on our elected officials to make rules and decisions, or, use politics to resolve conflicts. This is only possible because of the willingness of the people to accept and abide by the decisions of politicians.
Politics is not only a means of solving conflict, but is a form of conflict itself. An analogy of this would be a war fought by politicians, where they compromise and deal in favors to secure support for their viewpoints and ideas. The problem with politics is that the people are relying on the integrity and honor of the officials they have elected to represent them in government. Often the wants and needs of the people are overshadowed by the power and influence of special interest groups and lobbyists.
Government is composed of elected officials and the rules it has set forth and must abide by. Its purpose is to utilize politics to manage conflict. This is only possible where a strong government exists where its citizens recognize its legitimacy, and where it can use coercive force to enforce the policies it has set forth.