Two or more things come together when they come together to form something in common. Thus, a confluence occurs by joining different realities. It can be used to refer to natural elements (for example, the confluence of waters from different sources in a single channel) or to refer to the fusion of different ideas in a shared project.
The confluence of the rivers
The channels of two or more rivers can join and when this happens it is called a confluence. In general, there are two types of river confluence: the tributary and the mouth. In the first case, a secondary or tributary river flows into a main river and the exact place where the union between the two takes place is known as the confluence. The mouth is the final section of a river in which its waters discharge into the sea or another larger river. In short, the confluence of rivers implies the meeting of different river channels.
It must be taken into account, on the other hand, that the phenomenon of the confluence of two rivers depends on the speed and temperature of the water in each one of the channels and due to this some confluences become curious mergers (for example, the Río Negro meets the Río Solimoes and their union is known as "The Meeting of the Waters").
The fusion of ideas and creative currents
The different currents of thought or artistic manifestations are subject to a process of permanent change. In this way, two different positions can come together in a new project.
The historical examples in which there has been a process of confluence are very diverse. If we think of Christianity in Latin America, it is a religious phenomenon in which two great traditions converge: European Catholicism and pre-Columbian culture. Similarly, in the literary movement of Magical Realism two features also converge: everyday and real life and a different dimension, the magical world.
In the field of politics and associationism, many social movements are made up of different currents or groups that come together to create a broader project
In this way, feminist groups, environmentalists, unions, etc. can converge on the same left-wing political platform.
In any of its concrete manifestations, the concept of confluence is associated with the idea of union. Obviously, several currents of thought can merge as long as they have elements in common.
However, on some occasions, two totally different currents can merge, as has happened with social democracy, an ideology in which two traditions converge: socialism and the liberal democratic tradition.
Photos: Fotolia - drhfoto / miztanya
