Peace,

Conflict, and
Violence
Objectives for this lesson:
1. Be able to define the following terms/concepts:
a. Peace
b. Violence
c. Conflict
2. Discuss the causes of conflict and the features of armed
conflict
3. Examine conflict analysis and its process
4. Appreciate conflict resolution
What is PEACE?
● a state of tranquility or quiet
● freedom from disquieting or oppressive thoughts or emotions
● harmony in personal relations (https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/peace)

Etymology

pacem Pes, pais

*pag- Latin Anglo-French / Peace
PIE root Old French Mid-12c
Compact, PEACE (n.)
To fasten; a agreement, Peace, Freedom
binding treaty of peace, reconciliation, from civil
together tranquility, silence, disorder
absence of war permission
Other meanings by famous personalities:

“Peace is not merely the absence of war but the presence of justice,
of law, of order – in short, of government.” – Albert Einstein (A
Definition of Peace, n.d.)

“peace is not merely to absence of this tension, but the presence of

justice” – Martin Luther King Jr. (“When Peace Becomes Obnoxious” |
The Martin Luther King, Jr., Research and Education Institute, n.d.)

“Peace can only last where human rights are respected, where
the people are fed, and where individuals and nations are free.”
(The 14th Dalai Lama - Nobel Lecture - NobelPrize.Org, n.d.)
Major types of Peace (Johan Galtung, 1964)
Negative Peace Positive Peace
● absence of violence, and war (conflict, ● the integration of human society
hostility, agitation, disturbance,
● state of tranquility, calm, repose, quietness,
disagreement or quarrel, struggle, violence,
harmony, friendship, amity, concord,
terrorism, civil strife or civil commotion,
peaceful or friendly relation, public order,
social disorder, etc.); absence of mental
pacification, spiritual content,
disturbance such as anxiety, worry,
reconciliation, serenity, security, social
restlessness etc
justice and bliss.
● In relation to health sciences : curative
● In relation to health sciences: preventive
● examples of peace policies under this:
● Examples of peace policies under this:
international conventions (Geneva
communication, peace education,
Conventions), balance of power strategies,
international cooperation, dispute
arms control
resolution, arbitration, conflict
management, etc.
What is VIOLENCE?
“The intentional use of physical
force or power, threatened or
actual, against oneself, another
person, or against a group or
community, that either results in
or has a high likelihood of
resulting in injury, death,
psychological harm,
maldevelopment or deprivation.”
(Violence: A Global Public Health
Problem, n.d.)
Types of Violence:
● self-directed violence
● interpersonal violence
● collective violence
● Self-directed violence: subdivided into
suicidal behaviour and self-abuse.
● Interpersonal violence : divided into
two sub- categories: Family and
intimate partner violence, and
Community violence
● Collective violence : subdivided into
social, political and economic violence.
Nature of
Violent Acts:
● Physical
● Sexual
● Psychological
● involving
deprivation or
neglect.

Image source: (Violence: A Global Public Health Problem, n.d.)

What is CONFLICT?
● a struggle for power, property, etc
● strong disagreement between people, groups, etc., that results in
often angry argument
● a difference that prevents agreement : disagreement between
ideas, feelings, etc. (merriam-webster.com/dictionary/conflict)

Different Situations of Conflict

● International Armed Conflict

● Non-International Armed Conflict
● Other situations of Violence
 Situation Who are involved? Kind of Violence Applicable Law
How are the fightings
organized?
International
● State(s) armed forces vs CLASSIC: use of force;
Armed Conflict State(s) armed forces Occupation International
Non-International ● State(s) armed forces Minimum Level of Humanitarian Law
Armed Conflict vs organized armed Intensity
groups + international
● Organized armed Indicators of factors
groups vs organized intensity human rights law
armed groups*
● Number, duration, + national law
*Capacity to recruit and intensity of
and arm, capacity to armed
plan and execute confrontations
military operations, ● Number of weapons
hierarchical and fighters
structure/chain of ● Extent of damage
command, existence ● Effects of violence
of a code of conduct on people
 Situation Who are involved? Kind of Violence Applicable Law
How are the fightings
organized?

Other Situations Police/Security vs military and Lower Intensity International Humans

of Violence para-military groups (may be Rights Law
organize of not) Eg. riots,
demonstrations, mass
arrests, sporadic acts
of violence +
individuals/groups vs
individuals/groups

National Law
Causes of Conflict
● Government inability to provide basic good governance and protection of the people

● Power struggle by a section of the elite

● unequal access to political power (forecloses paths to peaceful change)

● Economic mismanagement and decline

● Ethnic and religious animosities, human rights violation, and ethnic cleansing resulting
from extreme forms of nationalism

● relative ease of arms trafficked all over the world

● struggles for control over major natural resources

What is Conflict Analysis?
Conflict analysis is a structured inquiry into the causes and potential direction of a conflict. It
seeks to identify opportunities for managing or resolving disputes without recourse to violent
action. It may include a variety of analytical methods.
(Conflict Analysis: Questions and Answers with the Author | United States Institute of Peace, n.d.)

structured process of analysis to understand conflict

● conflict profile
● involved actors and their perspectives,
● structural and proximate causes
● dynamics of how these elements interact
● examines open conflict (conflict that is very visible and deep-rooted), surface conflict (visible but shallow
or with no roots), and also latent conflict (below the surface with potential to emerge) (Fisher et al., 2000)
Why do Conflict Analysis?
● provides a comprehensive and accessible assessment of issues
● Provides documentation for policymakers/practitioners

Guiding questions for conflict analysis

Profile: What is the context that shapes conflict? Is there a history to the conflict? What are the
structures and institutions that influenced/shaped such conflict?

Actors: Who are the actors that shape the conflict? Who are the main actors? What are their interests?
What power do they have? What are the relationships between actors?

Causes: What causes conflict? What are the structural and proximate causes of conflict?

Dynamics: What are the current conflict dynamics/trends? Behavioral changes? Triggers? Developing
Scenarios?
What is Conflict Resolution?
- means for involved parties to find a peaceful solution to a disagreement (personal,
financial, political, or emotional)

Best course of action: Negotiation

Goals of Negotiation:

● Develop a solution that is best to all parties involved

● Find a solution at the quickly as possible
● To improve relationship of conflicting parties
Possible steps in Conflict Resolution
● Acknowledgement of the situation
● Allow expression of feelings
● Define the problem
● Identify underlying need
● Find common areas of agreement
● Identify solutions to satisfy needs
● Identify follow up procedure
● Actions to take if problem is unresolved
References
A Definition of Peace. (n.d.). Retrieved November 11, 2021, from http://jupiter.plymouth.edu/~lsandy/peacedef.html

Chapter 20. Providing Information and Enhancing Skills | Section 6. Training for Conflict Resolution | Main Section | Community Tool Box.
(n.d.). Retrieved November 11, 2021, from
https://ctb.ku.edu/en/table-of-contents/implement/provide-information-enhance-skills/conflict-resolution/main

CHAPTER XV ARMED CONFLICT. (1999). 08(49476290), 203–208. https://www.un.org/esa/socdev/rwss/docs/2001/15 Armed Conflict.pdf

Conflict Analysis: Questions and Answers with the Author | United States Institute of Peace. (n.d.). Retrieved November 11, 2021, from
https://www.usip.org/publications/conflict-analysis-questions-and-answers-author

Resolving Conflict Situations | People & Culture. (n.d.). Retrieved November 11, 2021, from
https://hr.berkeley.edu/hr-network/central-guide-managing-hr/managing-hr/interaction/conflict/resolving

The 14th Dalai Lama - Nobel Lecture - NobelPrize.org. (n.d.). Retrieved November 11, 2021, from
https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/peace/1989/lama/lecture/

Violence: A global public health problem. (n.d.). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.quip.2011.02.001

“When Peace Becomes Obnoxious” | The Martin Luther King, Jr., Research and Education Institute. (n.d.). Retrieved November 11, 2021,
from https://kinginstitute.stanford.edu/king-papers/documents/when-peace-becomes-obnoxious

Background Image Source: Freepik