agonistischen

Agonistischen is an adjective in German derived from the Greek word agón, meaning contest or struggle. In general usage it denotes situations, relations or actions that involve competition, conflict or active opposition between actors or forces. The term occurs in several disciplines with distinct but related senses.

In pharmacology and physiology, agonistisch describes substances, effects, or actions that activate a receptor to produce a cellular response. An agonist binds to a receptor and mimics the effect of the natural ligand. Agonists are contrasted with antagonists, which block or dampen receptor activity. Within pharmacology, terms such as full agonist, partial (or weak) agonist, and inverse agonist are used to describe the strength and nature of the response produced.

In social and political theory, agonistisch refers to a framework that regards political conflict as an inherent and legitimate feature of plural societies. Agonistic theory argues that consensus is often unattainable or undesirable, and that democratic life should accommodate contestation among diverse groups through institutional design, negotiation, and reciprocal respect for adversaries. The term is often associated with the concept of agonistic pluralism, notably in the work of Chantal Mouffe and, less directly, with Laclau’s discourse theory; critics warn that it risks normalization of polarization.

In summary, agonistisch denotes an orientation toward or participation in contest or activation, whether at the molecular receptor level or in the social and political arena, where competition or adversarial interaction is central to function or legitimacy.