Peace and Conflict
Peace and conflict studies is defined as both a pedagogical activity, in which teachers transmit knowledge to students; and a research activity, in which researchers create new knowledge about the sources of conflict. Peace and conflict studies entails understanding the concept of peace which is defined as political condition that ensures justice and social stability through formal and informal institutions, practices, and norms.
Johan Galtung, the principal founder of the discipline of peace and conflict studies define peace is a state of harmony characterized by the lack of violent conflict and the freedom from fear of violence. Commonly understood as the absence of hostility, peace also suggest the existence of healthy or newly healed interpersonal or international relationships, prosperity in matters of social or economic welfare, the establishment of equality, and a working political order that serves the true interests of all. In international relations, peacetime is not only the absence of war or violent conflict, but also the presence of positive and respectful cultural and economic relationships. Johan Galtung is one of the foremost and prolific peace researchers of recent times. Having founded in 1959 the International Peace Research Institute (PRIO) in Oslo, his thoughts on the nature of conflict, peace & violence underpin much of conflict analysis today.
Peace Studies allows one to examine the causes and prevention of war, as well as the nature of violence, including social oppression, discrimination and marginalization. Through peace studies one can also learn peace-making strategies to overcome persecution and transform society to attain a more just and equitable international community
Galtung’s first challenge is to broaden the understanding of our everyday notions of violence i.e. - the direct, deliberate physical harm by one actor towards another. Galtung argues that such a notion of violence would be very restrictive – if peace was simply
Johan Galtung, the principal founder of the discipline of peace and conflict studies define peace is a state of harmony characterized by the lack of violent conflict and the freedom from fear of violence. Commonly understood as the absence of hostility, peace also suggest the existence of healthy or newly healed interpersonal or international relationships, prosperity in matters of social or economic welfare, the establishment of equality, and a working political order that serves the true interests of all. In international relations, peacetime is not only the absence of war or violent conflict, but also the presence of positive and respectful cultural and economic relationships. Johan Galtung is one of the foremost and prolific peace researchers of recent times. Having founded in 1959 the International Peace Research Institute (PRIO) in Oslo, his thoughts on the nature of conflict, peace & violence underpin much of conflict analysis today.
Peace Studies allows one to examine the causes and prevention of war, as well as the nature of violence, including social oppression, discrimination and marginalization. Through peace studies one can also learn peace-making strategies to overcome persecution and transform society to attain a more just and equitable international community
Galtung’s first challenge is to broaden the understanding of our everyday notions of violence i.e. - the direct, deliberate physical harm by one actor towards another. Galtung argues that such a notion of violence would be very restrictive – if peace was simply