Understanding Violence
Defining Violence
Definition
Direct Violence
Physical harm or force inflicted on individuals or groups, such as war and torture.
Definition
Structural Violence
Systemic inequalities embedded in social, economic, and political structures such as poverty, discrimination, lack of access to healthcare.
Definition
Cultural Violence
Norms, values, and ideologies that justify or legitimize violence such as racism, sexism, religious intolerance.
Example
- The Rwandan Genocide (1994) is a stark example of direct violence, where ethnic tensions fueled mass killings.
- Structural violence was evident in the economic disparities and political marginalization of the Tutsi minority
- Cultural violence was perpetuated through propaganda that dehumanized the Tutsi population.
Interpreting Violence
- Realist Perspective: Views violence as an inevitable aspect of power struggles and state interests.
- Liberal Perspective: Emphasizes the role of international institutions and cooperation in mitigating violence.
- Critical Theories: Focus on underlying structures of inequality and oppression that perpetuate violence.
Note
- It's important to recognize that violence is not always physical.
- Structural and cultural violence can be just as damaging, even if they are less visible.
Exploring Peace
1. Negative Peace
- The absence of direct violence or war, but underlying issues remain (e.g. inequality, oppression).
- Example: A ceasefire without resolving the root conflict.
2. Positive Peace
- The presence of justice, equality, and harmony, where the root causes of conflict are addressed.
- Example: A society with fair laws, equal access to opportunities, and strong institutions.
Analogy
- Negative peace is like putting a bandage on a broken bone, the bleeding stops, but the bone is still broken.
- Positive peace is like setting the bone and healing it, the root problem is fixed.
Example
- Positive Peace: South Africa
- The post-apartheid transition in South Africa illustrates the pursuit of positive peace, as efforts were made to address structural inequalities and promote reconciliation through initiatives like the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
Example
- Negative Peace: North Korea and South Korea
- Since the Korean War armistice in 1953, there has been no active war, but no peace treaty was signed.
- There is an absence of direct violence, but the countries remain deeply divided with:
- High military tension (e.g. DMZ standoff)
- No diplomatic resolution
- Ongoing political hostility
Perspectives on Peace
- Realist Perspective: Peace is achieved through balance of power and deterrence.
- Liberal Perspective: Emphasizes the role of international institutions, democracy, and economic interdependence in fostering peace.
- Critical Theories: Advocate for addressing root causes of violence, such as inequality and injustice, to achieve lasting peace.
- Feminist Perspective: Focuses on how gender, class, race, and identity shape power and conflict.
- Peace in Religious & Spiritual Traditions: Faith traditions shape how people understand and pursue peace.
- Common themes: non-violence, justice, respect for life, and inclusion. Examples:
- Jainism: Avoid harming any life form, even accidentally.
- Buddhism: Peace via ethical living, abstaining from violence.
- Christianity: Love your enemy, turn the other cheek.
- Islam: Salam means peace, Quran teaches non-violence and respect.
- Ubuntu (African philosophy): "I am because we are", peace through interconnectedness and reconciliation.
- Common themes: non-violence, justice, respect for life, and inclusion. Examples:
Tip
- When analyzing peace, consider both negative and positive dimensions.
- This holistic approach helps identify underlying issues that may lead to future conflicts.
The Relationship Between Violence and Peace
- Cyclical Nature: Violence and peace are often interconnected, with unresolved structural and cultural violence leading to direct violence.
- Transformative Approaches: Emphasize addressing root causes and building sustainable peace through dialogue, reconciliation, and social justice.
Analogy
- Think of violence and peace as two sides of a coin.
- While negative peace may temporarily suppress violence, positive peace addresses the underlying issues that could cause the coin to flip back to violence.
Example
- Northern Ireland: The Good Friday Agreement (1998) ended decades of direct violence but highlighted the need for positive peace through ongoing reconciliation efforts.
- Syria: The civil war illustrates the interplay of direct, structural, and cultural violence, with international interventions reflecting different theoretical perspectives.
Self review
- Identify examples of direct, structural, and cultural violence in a current conflict
- Analyze how different theoretical perspectives interpret the causes and solutions to this conflict
- Reflect on the importance of positive peace in achieving long-term stability.
- Analyze how different theoretical perspectives interpret the causes and solutions to this conflict
- Reflect on the importance of positive peace in achieving long-term stability.
Theory of Knowledge
- How do cultural perspectives influence our understanding of violence and peace?
- Consider how language, media, and historical narratives shape these concepts in different contexts.
