Holistic Understanding of Peace and Violence

Holistic Understanding of Peace and Violence

• A new way of thinking about peace is crucial today.
• Our understanding, views, and ideas about peace shape feelings and actions, as well as our relationships with others.
• Fritjof Capra argues that a change in thinking about concepts and values is necessary to solve contemporary problems.

Secular Views of Peace and Violence

• Peace was traditionally defined as the absence of war and direct violence.
• Hugo Grotius defined peace as the absence of war and violence.
• Raymond Aron defined peace as a period of rivalry suspension between political units (1966).
• More recently, there's a shift from direct violence to indirect structural violence, where social, political, and economic systems cause suffering.
• Johan Galtung highlighted structural violence, arguing that the wealth of some nations comes from exploiting others, leading to inequality and deprivation.

Towards a Holistic Concept of Peace and Violence

• Peace workers increasingly challenge the conventional view of peace.
• Peace isn't just the absence of war, but the eradication of all facets of injustice.
• Johan Galtung separates peace into negative peace (absence of direct violence) and positive peace (justice and equitable resource distribution).
• Structural and indirect violence stemming from unequal wealth distribution, resource access, and power are fundamental facets of injustice.

Defining Peace

• Negative Peace: Absence of direct/physical violence (macro and micro).
• Direct Violence: Examples include war, torture, child and woman abuse.
• Positive Peace: Presence of conditions for well-being and just relationships (social, economic, political, ecological).
• Structural Violence: Poverty, hunger, racism, sexism, religious intolerance.
• Ecological Violence: Pollution, overconsumption.

Cultural Traditions with a Broad Concept of Peace

• The Greek concept of "irene" embodies justice, harmony, and the absence of violence.
• Arabic "sala'am" and Hebrew "shalom" highlight the absence of warfare, well-being, and harmony.
• Sanskrit "Shanti" encompasses peace of mind, earth, sea, and outer space.
• Chinese "ping" suggests harmony and unity despite diversity.

A Culture of Peace

• The UNESCO preamble suggests that societal conflicts originate from the mind, and solutions must start there.
• The Philippines has developed a framework focused on peace advocate experiences, particularly the work of Archbishop Antonio J. Ledesma.

Promoting a Culture of Peace (Six Dimensions/Operative Values)

• Social Continuum: Personal and family integrity, spiritual values.
• Political Continuum: Human rights and democracy, justice and compassion.
• Economic Continuum: Poverty eradication.
• Intercultural Understanding and Solidarity: Dialogue and understanding.

Types of Violence

• Betty Reardon defines violence as "human inflicted harm" to distinguish it from naturally occurring harm.

A Typology of Violence

• A typology (categorization) of violence based on personal, interpersonal, national community, and global levels.
• This demonstrates different forms of violence that occur at various levels in society.