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34 views

What Is Peace Studies Script

Uploaded by

Mary Ann Calalin
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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What is peace studies?

Peace Studies, also known as irenology, is an interdisciplinary field of study that focuses on
understanding and promoting peace. The main goal of peace studies is to prevent, de-escalate, and
find solutions to conflicts through peaceful means. This involves seeking outcomes that can be
considered "victorious" for all parties involved in a conflict, as opposed to traditional notions of victory
that may involve one side overpowering the other.

Peace studies is a variation of the broader field known as "Peace and Conflict Studies," which
encompasses the examination of both violent and non-violent behaviors in addition to structural
mechanisms related to conflicts, including social conflicts. The discipline aims to analyze these
behaviors and structures with the objective of comprehending the underlying processes that contribute
to a more desirable human condition.

In essence, peace studies seeks to go beyond the mere absence of violence and instead aims to foster
positive, harmonious relationships between individuals, communities, and nations. It encourages the
exploration of alternative approaches to conflict resolution that prioritize dialogue, cooperation, and
understanding. The interdisciplinary nature of peace studies draws on insights from various fields,
including sociology, political science, psychology, anthropology, and international relations, to provide
a holistic understanding of the dynamics of peace and conflict.

Holistic understanding of peace?


The conventional understanding of peace primarily focused on the absence of war and direct violence,
equating peace with the avoidance of death and destruction resulting from armed conflicts. However,
a paradigm shift emerged in the late 1960s, introducing an alternative view that redirected attention
from direct violence to indirect or structural violence embedded in societal systems. This perspective
acknowledges that people suffer not only from explicit acts of war but also from the inherent injustices
within social, political, and economic structures.
Recognizing that death and suffering extend beyond the battlefield, the concept of structural violence
highlights how conditions like extreme poverty, starvation, discrimination against minority groups, and
the denial of human rights contribute to a lack of true peace and human security. It emphasizes that a
world marked by these systemic issues fosters anger, tension, and discontent, ultimately fueling armed
conflicts and wars. Therefore, achieving genuine peace requires addressing not only the visible
manifestations of violence but also dismantling the underlying structures that perpetuate inequality and
injustice.
Traditional peace meant just avoiding war and violence. But a newer idea says real peace is not just
about stopping fights. It's also about fixing deeper problems like poverty, discrimination, and unfair
systems. These problems can make people suffer and lead to more conflicts. So, true peace means
not just preventing fights but also making things fair for everyone.
Johan Galtung's Negative-Positive Peace Framework, a cornerstone in peace studies, introduces
the concept of two dimensions of peace: negative peace and positive peace.
Negative peace pertains to the absence of direct or overt violence between states, individuals, or
communities. It involves agreements such as ceasefires, power-sharing deals, or the use of coercion
and force to control violence. Negative peace focuses on preventing immediate conflict and reducing
the visible manifestations of violence, creating a state of non-belligerence.
In contrast, positive peace goes beyond the absence of overt violence, emphasizing the elimination
of indirect and structural violence. It envisions a state where just and non-exploitative relationships
prevail, fostering human and ecological well-being. Positive peace aims to address the root causes of
conflicts, creating conditions that diminish societal inequalities and injustices. By fostering collaborative
and supportive relationships, positive peace seeks to build a more sustainable and harmonious social
order that goes beyond the mere absence of war or direct violence.

The normative aims of peace studies center around conflict transformation and resolution, utilizing
mechanisms like peacekeeping and peacebuilding. In the context of negative peace, peacekeeping
involves the deployment of international armed forces to separate conflicting parties, monitoring their
activities, and facilitating humanitarian assistance delivery. This aligns with the goal of achieving
negative peace, focusing on the absence of direct violence and immediate conflict.

On the other hand, positive peace is pursued through peacebuilding, which takes a holistic approach
to address the underlying social, political, and economic structures that contribute to conflict. It aims to
establish constructive relationships among conflicting parties, fostering long-term stability and harmony.
Additionally, peacemaking involves efforts to bring conflicting parties to a ceasefire agreement through
peaceful means. Positive peace efforts often encompass elements of both peacebuilding and
peacemaking, emphasizing a comprehensive approach to resolving conflicts and creating conditions
for lasting peace.

Peace Studies allows one to examine the causes and prevention of war, as well as the nature of
violence, including social oppression, discrimination, and marginalization. Through peace studies one
can also learn peace-making strategies to overcome persecution and transform society to attain a more
just and equitable international community.

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