Abstract: Social conflicts have the “positive function” of social integration. However，from the perspective of political elites whose primary governance goal is to maintain social stability，social conflicts show more of a state of social instability，undermining social order and even the overall situation of national reform and development. Facing the reality of social divisions and conflicts, we should grasp the transformation of the main social contradictions, clarify the conceptual orientation of social conflict governance and reconstruct the strategic choice of social conflict governance. In the process of integrating social conflicts，political elites need to recognize the “positive, function” of social conflicts and actively intervene in social conflicts and protests, so as to use the proper solving of concrete conflicts as social safety valves. In this way，they can control the intensity and impact of social conflicts and maintain social stability through resolving social conflicts. Meanwhile，political elites should establish all kinds of mechanisms of social safety valves and enrich institutional approaches for social conflict governance，so as to promote social interest expression and participation, thus pushing the healthy operation of the social organism, and enhancing the communication and connection between the ruling party and the people, thus realizing the organic integration of the political community.

Key words: social conflicts, contentious politics, political elites, social safety valves