UNIT 4: Peace and conflict

Question 1

What is PEACE?

Answer 1

The absence of conflict and violence,
and/or a state of harmonious relations.

Question 2

What is CONFLICT?

Answer 2

An actual or perceived opposition between individuals or groups.

Question 3

What is VIOLENCE?

Answer 3

Physical or psychological force afflicted upon another being, or anything someone does that prevents others from reaching their full potential.

Question 4

Which are the different types of conflict?

Answer 4

NON-VIOLENT conflict: useful mechanism for social change and transformation.
–> Civil unrest
-> Protests: expressing strong objection to policy or event.
-> Delegitimize government: show that system is oppressive

VIOLENT conflict: harmful and requires conflict resolution.
1. Wars: aim is to have victory over enemy
2. Terrorism: aim to wage terror amongst civilian populations. Used as a tool of psychological warfare to mobilize the public.

Question 5

Types of wars:

Answer 5

1. Interstate wars: Conflicts between two or more sovereign states.
2. Civil Wars (intra state): Internal conflicts within a country, usually between the government and insurgent groups.
3. Extra State wars: occurs between a state and a non-state group outside its own territory.

Question 6

FACTORS Contributing to CONFLICTS

Answer 6

POLITICAL FACTORS:
1. Nationalism: Fervent patriotism can amplify territorial disputes.
2. Power Vacuums: Absence of stable governance can lead to internal strife.

ECONOMIC FACTORS:
1. Resource Scarcity: Limited access to vital resources like water or oil can trigger conflicts.
2. Trade Disputes: Differences in trade policies and tariffs can strain international relations.

SOCIAL FACTORS:
1. Ethnic or Religious Tensions: cultural differences or beliefs can instigate prolonged conflicts.
2. Historical Grievances: Past injustices or disputes, if unresolved, can reignite as future conflicts.
Misinformation: Propagation of false information can exacerbate societal tensions.

PSYCHOLOGICAL FACTORS:
1. Greed: idea that through conflict you can gain things beyond their capacity
2. Grievance: associated to latent conflicts unresolved (systematically ignored individuals)

INCLUSION vs EXCLUSION: us against them theory
Creates the idea of “the other”, enhancing divisions.

Question 7

Different forms of PEACE?

Answer 7

Negative peace: absence of conflict

Positive peace: preventing causes of conflict

Holistic gaia peace: peace with other, one self and the environment

Question 8

What is “Curle’s model” of the phases to a conflict?

Answer 8

LATENT CONFLICT: no visible animosity, conflict on the side suffering tensions but without erupting

OVERT CONFLICT: conflict is put into light

ESCALATING CONFLICT and DEESCALATING CONFLICT

Question 9

Explain the difference between peacekeeping, peacemaking, and peace building.

Answer 9

Peacekeeping: Physical violence between two warring parties is ENDED and war/fighting is PREVENTED between them. Peace was kept.

Peacemaking: Working towards a PEACE TREATY to ensure the absence of conflict (negative peace) will be maintained for the foreseeable future.

Peace building: Working towards preventing causes of conflict (positive peace), the establishment of justice and equality.

Question 10

Types of VIOLENCE

Answer 10

Physical and sexual violence: entails the most visible and direct form of aggression

Structural violence: globalizes concepts of discrimination and the unequal distribution of power, resources, and food.
–> Any human-made societal structure preventing us from reaching our potential should be considered “violence”.

Cultural violence: prevailing attitudes and beliefs by which society legitimizes direct or structural violence.

Domestic violence: less visible and more contested form of violence, through physical, sexual or emotional violence between intimate partners or against children.

Coercion, threats, intimidation, isolation to someone else is also considered as violence.

Question 11

CAUSE for CONFLICT:

Answer 11

DATA: inaccurate and untrustworthy information or different interpretations of relevant data.

INTEREST: perceived or actual competitive interests.

VALUE: revolves around the different ways of life, ideology, and religion
→ Example: east versus west, Islam versus western liberalism

RELATIONSHIP: Arise when parties are upset with one another, one party has negative perception of the other.

STRUCTURE: destructive patterns of behavior or interaction, unequal control or distribution of resources [and] unequal power and authority.