Negative peace is the absence of direct violence, while positive peace requires justice, equality and social conditions that address the causes of violence. A society can therefore achieve negative peace without positive peace.
This distinction, associated with peace scholar Johan Galtung, belongs to the Peace and Conflict thematic study for SL and HL. Peace is more than the end of warfare.
Direct violence is visible physical harm, including warfare, terrorism or assault. A ceasefire may stop this violence and establish negative peace, but it does not necessarily change the conditions that caused conflict.
Positive peace also requires reductions in structural violence: avoidable harm caused by unequal political, economic or social systems. It also challenges cultural violence, including beliefs that normalize discrimination or exclusion.
| Type of peace | Central meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Negative peace | Direct violence is absent or reduced | In 2016, Colombia's government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia signed an agreement ending their major armed confrontation. |
| Positive peace | Just institutions address underlying causes | The agreement included rural reform, political participation and transitional justice, but incomplete implementation and violence by other armed groups have limited positive peace. |
The mechanism is sequential but not automatic: ending fighting may create security for reform, but lasting peace depends on legitimate institutions, fair access to resources and political inclusion. This links peace to power and legitimacy because unequal power relationships and mistrusted institutions can reproduce conflict.
A common misconception is that positive peace means people feel optimistic or friendly. It does not. “Positive” refers to peaceful and just structures, not emotion.
Exam technique: If asked to distinguish, define both concepts and state the contrast explicitly. In an extended response, evaluate whether a peace process ended direct violence and addressed structural causes, using dated evidence and a balanced judgment.