The Hegelian dialectic is a philosophical framework developed by Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel that describes the process of development through contradictions. It typically involves three stages: thesis, which presents an idea; antithesis, which counters or challenges that idea; and synthesis, which resolves the conflict between the two, leading to a new understanding or idea. This dialectical method emphasizes that progress occurs through the clash of opposing forces, ultimately resulting in a more advanced state of knowledge or reality. It has influenced various fields, including political theory, history, and psychology, shaping how we understand change and development in society.