PEACE PSYCHOLOGY

Cultural & Structural Violence

“Peace cannot be kept by force; it can only be achieved by understanding.”

― Albert Einstein
 Violence is one of the possible responses to specific conflict
situations. This does not imply that violence is unavoidable.

 Hate speech does not incite violence.

 In societies with conflict, it is possible to identify both specific

causes and more general conditions that make violent conflict
more likely.

 Attitudes, Behaviors, and Contradictions act together to encourage

violent conflict.
Conflict Resolution
Structural violence
Term commonly ascribed to Johan Galtung (1969).

It refers to a form of violence wherein some social structure

or social institution may harm people by preventing them
from meeting their basic needs.

Institutionalized adultism, ageism, classism, elitism,

ethnocentrism, nationalism, speciesism, racism, and sexism
are some examples of structural violence.
Adultism

"prejudice and accompanying systematic

discrimination against young people"
Ageism

Stereotyping and discriminating against individuals

or groups on the basis of their age.
Classism

Prejudice against people belonging to a particular

social class.
Elitism

the belief that a society or system should be led by an

elite.
Ethnocentrism

evaluation of other cultures according to

preconceptions originating in the standards and
customs of one's own culture.
Nationalism

an extreme form of patriotism marked by a feeling of

superiority over other countries
Speciesism

the assumption of human superiority leading to the

exploitation of animals.
Racism

prejudice, discrimination, or antagonism directed

against someone of a different race based on the
belief that one's own race is superior.
Sexism

prejudice, stereotyping, or discrimination, typically

against women, on the basis of sex.
Imperialism

a policy of extending a country's power and

influence through colonization, use of military force,
or other means.

Up next: Cultural violence

Cultural violence

"Cultural violence" refers to aspects of a culture that can be

used to justify or legitimize direct or structural violence, and
may be exemplified by religion and ideology, language and art,
empirical science and formal science.

Victim blaming, rape myth, Intimate Partner Violence etc.

Up next: Conflict Resolution

 Conflict prevention
 Conflict prevention involves diplomatic measures to keep intra-
state or inter-state tensions and disputes from escalating into
violent conflict.

 It includes early warning, information gathering and a careful

analysis of the factors driving the conflict. Conflict prevention
activities may include the use of the Secretary-General’s “good
offices,” preventive deployment of UN missions or conflict
mediation led by the Department of Political Affairs.
 Peacemaking
 Peacemaking generally includes measures to address conflicts in
progress and usually involves diplomatic action to bring hostile
parties to a negotiated agreement.

 The UN Secretary-General may exercise his or her “good offices” to

facilitate the resolution of the conflict. Peacemakers may also be
envoys, governments, groups of states, regional organizations or the
United Nations. Peacemaking efforts may also be undertaken by
unofficial and non-governmental groups, or by a prominent
personality working independently.
 Peacebuilding

 Peacebuilding aims to reduce the risk of lapsing or relapsing into

conflict by strengthening national capacities at all levels for conflict
management, and to lay the foundation for sustainable peace and
development. It is a complex, long-term process of creating the
necessary conditions for sustainable peace. Peacebuilding measures
address core issues that effect the functioning of society and the State,
and seek to enhance the capacity of the State to effectively and
legitimately carry out its core functions.
Peace Enforcement

 Peace enforcement involves the application of a range of coercive

measures, including the use of military force. It requires the explicit
authorization of the Security Council.

 It is used to restore international peace and security in situations where the

Security Council has decided to act in the face of a threat to the peace,
breach of the peace or act of aggression. The Council may utilize, where
appropriate, regional organizations and agencies for enforcement action
under its authority and in accordance with the UN Charter.