Peace Education

Introduction
Every human being wants to live a life designed by the Creator- happy and
in peaceful harmony with other creatures on earth. We are given the bounties of
this beautiful earth to enjoy life. At the same time, we are given the free will to
choose how to live our life. We must choose to live in peace and be able to
communicate the same peace to others and become contributors to world peace.
We must not allow ourselves to encounter any form of suffering that will hamper our
inner peace.

Yet peace is beyond the absence of misery among humans. It is also the
state of reasonable interactions between humans and the natural environment. Man
cannot live without ecological balance. Thus, humans must abide peaceably with the
laws of nature to attain lasting peace. This makes the concept of peace an
integrative area of study. This self-learning module is therefore timely and relevant
for the development of peace building and peace keeping skills needed for a happy
life.

Peace education is important for everyone, especially for the youth. It is a key
to a brighter future for all. It will empower you all to become positive role models
thereby creating a ripple effect in your respective communities that will drive the
passion behind peace building activities such as conflict resolution, literacy
promotion, etc.

There is a profound reflection on this concept of peace. The core concept of

peace is rooted in the understanding and practice of respect which bears friendship
and harmony between and among individuals, and the natural environment that
nurtures our life.

Topic 1: Theories of Peace

1.The Peace & War Game Theory is an approach in game theory

to understand the relationship between peace and conflicts. The
iterated game hypotheses have initially been
used by academic groups and computer
simulations to study possible cooperation and
aggression strategies. It is the process of
modeling the strategic interaction between two or more players in
a situation containing set rules and outcomes.

Thus, conflicts can be settled and resolved if the parties

involved are able to sit back and reckon to the rules or
agreements with which relationships were initially created. If this
is maintained, then the solution is a win-win condition for both
parties. One very good example is adhering to classroom rules.

gtlcenter.org
If there is already an agreement that these rules are fair and just and must be
observed, then there will be peace and order inside the class. Everybody gains peace
of mind and happiness In the community, if everyone abides by regulations and laws
promulgated by authorities, then the people will gain a peaceful and harmonious life.

2. The Active Peace Theory is a theory that suggests peace is part of a triad, which
also includes justice and wholeness (or well-being).
Galtung's (1976)teaching of the meanings of the terms
peacemaking, peacekeeping, and peacebuilding has
been fitted into this triadic formulation.

The Triad of Active Peace

Peacemaking- is the transformation of conflicts away

from violence, oppression, and subjugation by social and political
means. Mediation, conferencing, circles peacemaking, and
kindred 'encounter' forms.

Peacekeeping -Nonviolent Accompaniment needs not

be organized or public in its motivations, but is more
effective when it is done publicly, and the reasons
are publicized. Most well-known exemplars are
Nonviolent Peaceforce, Christian Peacemaker
Teams, Muslim Peacemaker Teams. "
Peace building -sustainable Development -- providing for
human needs so that the associated conflicts involving
sustaining life (land, water, food, health care, etc.) are
ameliorated or eliminated. For example, those who are less
fortunate need to be helped meet their needs so that they will
have peaceful life.

3. The Balance of Power theory (in international relations) suggests that

states may secure their survival by preventing any one state from gaining enough
military power to dominate all others. As the maintenance of a balance of power
could in some circumstances require a willingness to go to war, some critics saw
the idea of a balance of power as promoting war rather than promoting peace.

This phenomenon was a radical critique of those supporters of the Allied and
Associated Powers. They justified entry into World War I because it was
necessary to preserve the balance of power in Europe from a German bid for
supremacy.

Topic 2- A Holistic Understanding of Peace

Peace is defined in layman’s term as the state of calm and

tranquility. It is a state free of oppressive and unpleasant
thoughts and emotions An example of
peace is a feeling you have on a quiet Sunday
morning as you sit on a chair at the beach and
watch the sun setting down the horizon.

Beyond the individual sphere, peace is a state of security

or order within a community provided for by law. When there is
peace, people are encouraged to work together for the
development of the community . Peace is a stress-free state of
security and calmness that comes when there's no fighting or
war, everything coexisting in perfect harmony and freedom.

Early views and understanding about Peace is that it is the

absence of war and violence as espoused by Grotius (1625). This
understanding went on until in the late 1960s a new view started
to emerge. It was realized that war and direct violence did not only cause chaos
and death. Johan Galtung (1964) is one of the main theorists in peace and conflict
studies. He introduced the concepts of negative peace, positive peace,
structural violence, and many other key concepts. Galtung's ideas have been
highly influential in the field of peace education.
 Negative peace is the absence of violence. In order to
create negative peace, we must look for ways to reduce and
eliminate violence. A cease-fire would be an example of an action
for negative peace.

Positive peace is the presence of social justice and

equality, and the absence of structural or indirect
violence. It is characterized by the presence of
harmonious social relations and the “integration
of human society” (Galtung, 1964). In order to
further understand positive peace, it is important
to understand structural violence.

Structural violence, or indirect

violence, is the result of social structures
or institutions that prevent people
from meeting their basic needs
and accessing their basic human
rights. Assefa describes this as “killing people
without the use of the gun” (1993). For maesterious.blogsp
sites.google.com ot.com
example, hunger can be the result of
structural violence, as economic and social
systems may prevent people from being able brookings.edu

to access adequate food supplies. Another example would be institutionalized

racism or sexism. Structural violence is also the most potent stimulant of
behavioral violence in the form of homicides, suicides, mass murders, and
war.

Structural violence can take the form of discrimination against poor,

minority, and mentally ill individuals. Those who experience further
marginalization through entry into a correctional system are at even greater
risk.
 Topic 3- The Need for Peace Education
Peace education is a process of promoting knowledge, skills,
attitudes and values needed to bring about behavior change that
will enable children, the youth and adults to prevent conflict and
violence, both overt (direct) and structural (indirect); to resolve
conflicts peacefully and to create conditions conducive to peace,
whether at an interpersonal, intergroup, or
international level (UNICEF,1999).

Peace education or an education that

promotes a culture of peace, is essentially
transformative. It cultivates the knowledge
behaviors that, in the first place, have either created or worsened
violent conflicts. It seeks this transformation by building awareness
and understanding, developing concern, and finally, challenging
personal and social values that will enable people to create
conditions and systems that actualize nonviolence, justice,
environmental care and other peace values.

Integration of peace education could bear knowledge, skills, and attitudes

which will develop learners holistically and help people not to
engage nor promote the occurrence of conflict. It must be a
reminder that the peaceful resolution of conflicts would create
better social conditions in the community, encouraging everyone to
take part in sustaining peace.

Advantages of Peace Education

Peace education is central to the transformation of personal
and social behaviors that are needed so that our world will be a
better place to live in. Peace education is a relevant and timely
process that will bring about the following gains:
1. Peace education develops our sense of social responsibility and solidarity.

2. Peace education develops our skills in overcoming obstacles towards promotion

of peace.

3. Peace education develops our intercultural acceptance and understanding.

4. Peace education activities promote conflict resolution that promotes peace and
values such as respect for human rights, freedom, tolerance, equality,
confidence, and social justice.

Attitudes and Values of Peace Builders

Let us reflect on our practices and examine how far we have improved our attitudes
and values along the following:

 Self-respect: A sense of your own worth and a sense of pride in your own
particular social and cultural background. You feel good of who you are and
will always seek to do things that will make you proud of yourself.
 Respect for Others: A sense of the worth and inherent dignity of other people,
including those with social, religious, cultural and family backgrounds different
from your own.

 Respect for Life/Nonviolence: Valuing of human life and

refusal to respond to an adversary or conflict situation with
violence; preference for nonviolent processes such as
collaborative problem-solving and other positive techniques as
against the use of physical force and weapons.
 Compassion: Sensitivity to the difficult conditions and
suffering of other people and acting with
deep empathy and kindness toward those
who are marginalized/excluded.
 Ecological Concern: Caring for the
natural environment, preference for
 sustainable living and a simple lifestyle.
 Cooperation: Valuing of cooperative processes toward the pursuit of common
goals.
 Justice: Acting with a sense of fairness towards others, upholding the principle
of equality (in dignity and rights) and rejection of all forms of exploitation and
oppression.
 Social Responsibility: Willingness to take action to contribute to the shaping of
a society characterized by justice, nonviolence and well-being; sense of
responsibility toward present and future generations.
 Positive Vision: Imaging the kind of future they prefer with a sense of hope
and pursuing its realization.

These attitudes and values are essential for a peace-loving person who has
the drive to participate in the pursuit of social peace where people can avoid
conflicts and sufferings and live life to its fullness as designed by God.

Topic 4: The Role of the Youth in

Promoting and Maintaining Peace in the
Peace brings harmony to all, and this state goes together to anyone transcend
Community

Notably, no war, no fight, and no disturbance can be experienced

by the people.
A lot of the people are creating ways for peacebuilding
among waring groups and communities. The measures they
created vary from activities, talks, and other creative structures to
strengthen peace. Together with strengthening peace, we build
relationships and bonds out from activities that weigh in positive
impacts; to concretize peace after conflict situations are resolved-
much more that this is a pursuit of many generations.
We believe that peace starts within us. As we would like to emphasize, any non-
violent activities which promote social justice and equality are at the core of peace
education.

What is peacebuilding?
Peacebuilding is about dealing with the reasons why people fight in the first
place and supporting societies to manage their differences and conflicts without
resorting to violence. It aims to prevent the outbreak, escalation, continuation and
recurrence of violence, so peace can take place before, during and after conflicts. It
is a long-term and collaborative process, as it involves changes in attitudes,
behaviors and norms.

In the world of transformative education for a culture of

peace worldwide, it is now acknowledged that children and youth
need to be empowered and given opportunities to actively
participate in personal and social action in peacebuilding as
individuals and as socially engaged citizens (Swe Hin, et. al.,
2017). Peacebuilding is a long-term process of encouraging
people to talk, repairing relationships, and reforming
institutions. For positive change to last, everyone affected by a
destructive conflict must be involved in the process of building
peace.

What is the role of the youth in peacebuilding and peace

keeping?

The youth will be part of the future local development and

assume important roles in the resolution of conflicts within their

communities (Tinnerholm, 2018).. Thus, building their capacity
as peacebuilding actors is key to strengthen democratic
governance and solve problems at the local and national
levels. zaag,mn

The positioning of youth in society has a bearing on their leadership potential

and their possible role in peacebuilding (Ozerdem, 2016). The tension between
young and old has been one of the key features of inter-generational shifts pertaining
to the control over power, resources and people. The tension lies in the palpable
impatience of youth, their desire to strive for more, their willingness to be seen as
responsible and capable, and the structural barriers to their social mobility.
Independence from others and responsibility for others, such as taking care of a
family or household, can be seen as defining markers of pre-requisites of social
adulthood.

Looking closely, one of your major contributions can be

through peer group non-formal education. Many of you spend a lot
time with friends or classmates, and on many occasions you listen
more to them than to your parents or teachers. You also have a
greater flexibility and openness to new ideas. You can build bonds
and relationships easier with other young people to overcome old
barriers. The key to success is allowing you the space, time, and
confidence to take up the initiative.

Youth leadership in schools is a relevant training for you in

developing peace building skills. The characteristics of the curricula
and the activities it includes are essential in
promoting your leadership skills. School
activities foster deeper understanding of
leadership, promote self-reflection, and aim
at improving both personal and problem-
solving skills.

Promoting self-reflection allows you to evaluate your

inner strengths and weaknesses, to understand your capacity
for positive transformation, and to identify how to lead others. Likewise, personal
development requires learning from your own mistakes as well as from others’
experiences.

Enhancing your problem-solving skills through the different learning

opportunities in school helps to eliminate violence in all interactions and provides you
with the knowledge of nonviolent methods and their implementation is the key to
demonstrate the wide variety of peaceful ways to approach conflict and to pursue
community transformation.

Another way of enhancing peace building potentials is through engagement in

student-led projects that address current issues from your own perspective and draw
on peer dialogue, eventually striving towards the transformation of the school.

Engagement in community service and voluntary activities

is also an effective means of leadership development. You can
participate actively in the proposal, design, and implementation
of activities. This allows you to have a positive impact on your
communities and to establish networks of cooperation with
others. This also enhances social and leadership skills, allowing
you to learn about community-oriented strategies for social,
economic, political or cultural change.

Peace
Author Unknown

Juanito was an idealistic person. He wanted everybody to

be happy and lead meaningful lives. So one day, he strode
to church and prayed hard for World Peace. He continued
praying for the same intention for a year yet nothing
seemed to change.
One day, de decided to narrow down his scope and pray
for peace in his own country instead. He prayed for the
same intention for another year yet violence and
disturbance still seemed to be in an upsurge.
Anxious for his prayer to be finally hear, he decided to pray
for peace within his family instead. He kept this intention
for another year with no significant result.
Finally, on the verge frustration he decided to pray for
peace within himself. He prayed for this intention for the
next year. Each time he did so, he felt more at peace with
himself and his personal issues, his family, his neighbors
until it reached a point in time that Juanito was considered
a man of peace, a friend of everybody especially of the
neediest among his countrymen.
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Why Peace Education is Important for Youth

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