Core Chicks Class: Peace in Global Politics

Introduction to Peace

• The concept of peace is debated and multifaceted.
• Question: Is peace merely the absence of violence or does it require conditions for a peaceful life?

Johan Galtung - Father of Peace and Conflict Studies

• Norwegian sociologist.
• His ideas apply from community issues to interstate war.

Galtung's Definition of Peace

1. Absence or reduction of violence.
2. Nonviolent and creative conflict transformation.

• Conflicts are inevitable but can be transformed without violence.

Types of Violence by Galtung

1. Direct Violence
   • Visible violence like war or bullying.
2. Structural Violence
   • Social inequalities leading to violence, e.g., wealth and gender disparities.
3. Cultural Violence
   • Cultural ideologies justifying violence.

Types of Peace by Galtung

1. Negative Peace
   • Absence of direct violence but underlying conflict remains.
   • Example: North and South Korea's current situation and Israel-Palestine.
2. Positive Peace
   • Absence of direct and indirect violences.
   • Example: Post-WWII Western Europe and US Reconstruction Era.

Challenges and Questions

• Is negative peace truly negative or sometimes the best achievable?
• Feasibility of achieving positive peace given global inequalities.
• How to creatively transform conflicts and address structural issues?

Conclusion

• Conflict resolution without violence is key to peace.
• Each conflict is unique; learning from past conflicts is vital.
• Galtung emphasizes handling conflict without recourse to violence as a test of true peace.

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• Key Takeaway: Aim for nonviolent conflict resolution and address underlying societal issues for sustainable peace.