Galtung's conflict triangles are analytical models showing that conflict involves more than visible violence. They explain how underlying incompatibilities, attitudes and behaviour interact, and how direct violence is supported by structural and cultural conditions.
The Conflict Triangle
Johan Galtung's conflict triangle, also called the ABC triangle, identifies three connected dimensions:
| Dimension | Meaning | Myanmar example |
|---|---|---|
| Attitudes | Beliefs, emotions and perceptions, including fear, hatred or mistrust | Anti-Rohingya prejudice presented the Muslim minority as outsiders. |
| Behaviour | Observable actions, including threats, discrimination, violence or cooperation | In 2017, Myanmar's military conducted operations that forced more than 700,000 Rohingya into Bangladesh. |
| Contradiction | The underlying incompatibility between actors' needs, interests or goals | The Rohingya sought citizenship and protection, while Myanmar's government excluded them from recognized ethnic membership. |
These dimensions reinforce one another. Exclusion can intensify mistrust, which can legitimize harmful behaviour and deepen the original contradiction.
The Violence Triangle
Galtung's second model distinguishes three forms of violence:
| Form | Explanation | Myanmar example |
|---|---|---|
| Direct violence | Visible physical or psychological harm | Killings, sexual violence and village destruction during the 2017 military operations |
| Structural violence | Harm caused by unequal political, legal or economic systems | The 1982 Citizenship Law effectively denied most Rohingya full citizenship rights. |
| Cultural violence | Ideas or narratives that make direct or structural violence appear acceptable | Nationalist narratives portrayed Rohingya exclusion as protecting Myanmar's identity. |
A common misconception is that the triangles describe fixed stages of conflict. They do not. They identify interconnected dimensions that may operate simultaneously.
IB Exam Technique
This model fits the thematic study Peace and conflict, especially violence, conflict and peacebuilding. In an exam, define each dimension, apply it to a specific contemporary case, and evaluate the model's limitation: it organizes causes clearly but may oversimplify changing actors, power inequalities and international influences. Galtung's triangles are useful analytical tools named in the guide, not formulas that replace political evidence or a balanced judgment.