Lesson 1: A Holistic Understanding of Peace and Violence PDF

LESSON 1: A HOLISTIC UNDERSTANDING OF PEACE AND VIOELNCE  LESSON 1: A HOLISTIC UNDERSTANDING OF PEACE AND VIOELNCE A new way of thinking about peace is so important today. The power of our own understanding and views of peace both...

LESSON 1: A HOLISTIC UNDERSTANDING OF PEACE AND VIOELNCE  LESSON 1: A HOLISTIC UNDERSTANDING OF PEACE AND VIOELNCE A new way of thinking about peace is so important today. The power of our own understanding and views of peace both as a condition and as a value cannot be underestimated. It is because our ideas shape our feelings and our actions, as well as how we live and how we relate with others. For this reason, Fritjof Capra, in his widely acclaimed book, The Turning Point, has argued for the need for a change in thinking, about both concepts and values, as a necessary first step to solve our many problems today (Capra, 1982).  SECULAR VIEWS/CONCEPTS OF PEACE AND VIOLENCE Peace was defined as merely the absence of war or direct violence. This negative formulation was first given by Hugo Grotius in 1625 (Dobrosielski, 1987) and other term for peace was that of absence of death and destruction as a result of war and physical/direct violence. As late as 1966 the noted French thinker, Raymond Aron defined peace narrowly as a condition of “more or less lasting suspension of violent modes of rivalry between political units” (Barash, 1999). Attention started to shift from direct to indirect or structural violence, i.e., ways in which people suffer from violence built into a society via its social, political and economic systems (Hicks, 1987). Johan Galtung, a renowned peace theorist and researcher, argues that structural violence occurs when the wealth of affluent nations, groups or individuals is based on the labor and the essential resources drawn from nations, groups and individuals who, as a consequence, are required to live diminished lives of deprivation (Monez, 1973).  TOWARD A HOLISTIC CONCEPT OF PEACE AND VIOLENCE Over the past many years, peace workers have increasingly challenged this conventional view of peace and have declared that “peace is not simply a lack of war or nonviolence; peace means the eradication of all facets of injustice” (Cheng and Kurtz, 1998). Johan Galtung explains that peace is not merely the absence of war or direct violence but also the absence of structural or indirect violence. Structural violence arises from the unequal distribution of wealth, resources, and power, which leads to injustice. Galtung differentiates between "negative peace" (absence of direct violence) and "positive peace" (presence of social justice and equitable distribution of resources).  DEFINING PEACE PEACE POSITIVE PEACE Presence of conditions of well-being and just NEGATIVE PEACE Absence of direct/physical relationships: social, economic, political, ecological violence (both macro and micro) STRUCTURAL VIOLENCE e.g., poverty, hunger SOCIO-CULTURAL VIOLENCE DIRECT VIOLENCE e.g., racism, sexism, religious intolerance e.g., war, torture, child and woman abuse ECOLOGICAL VIOLENCE e.g., pollution, overconsumption VIOLENCE Negative peace refers to the absence of war or physical/cirect violence, while positive peace refers to the presence of just and non-exploitative relationships, as well as human and ecological well-being, such that the root causes of conflict are diminished The non-exploitative relationships mentioned above refer not only to relationships between humans but also to those between humans and nature. Peace with nature is considered the foundation for "positive peace" (Mische, 1987). It is because the earth is ultimately the source of our survival, physical sustenance, health and wealth; it is not possible to provide for human survival if nature's capacity to renew itself is seriously impaired. It must also be remembered that human behavior is intimately related to the availability of basic resources (Barnaby. 1989). When a shortage of resources threatens lifestyles or life itself, rivalry for resources can lead to aggression and violent conflict.  TYPES OF VIOLENCE Betty Reardon a peace educator who defines violence as "Human inflicted harm" It is a succinct description to distinguish violence from other harms that occur naturally.  a ns an d t h e Harmony with the um Ea H lobal Peace rt Sacred Source Harmony n G / So p ci h u a e with Nature ro l we g personal P P an Harmony dB Peace bet r Inte r ea e Inte with Others ea ce eyond c Harmony Personal Peace with the Self p eratio n Respect f Self-respect on Respec erati Inner Resource: coo or Love, hope oop t fo e, ot e nc rp h ,c a ro ers l e r ce o th ons t r ju s tic e, io n Re an e gr r ole sp ou at t ps , t ec er ce e Re fo w it h i o p yl ro in n a tio n ju st o sp c st t the e , ec c fe fo r na a n li rt tio n s; ler l e he J u stic e, to i m p env , S ir o n l i v i ng m ent; S uistain a ble This form of violence is done by Toh Swee-Hin and Virginia Cawagas (1987).  A CULTURE OF PEACE The UNESCO preamble tells us that “Since wars begin in the minds of men, it is in the minds of men that the defenses of peace must be constructed.”  A PHILIPPINE FRAMEWORK TOWARD A CULTURE OF PEACE In the Philippines, a framework for promoting peace has been developed. Based on the experiences of peace advocates, and primarily the work of Mindanao peace advocate Archbishop Antonio J. Ledesma, S.J. (2007).  CULTURAL TRADITIONS WITH A BROAD CONCEPT OF PEACE The Greek concept of "irene" implies justice, harmony, and the absence of violence. The Arabic "sala 'am and Hebrew "shalom" implies the concepts of the absence of war, well-being, and harmony, "Shalom" can also mean love, prosperity, and reconciliation. In Sanskrit, the concept of "Shanti" is peace of mind, peace of the earth, peace underneath the sea, and peace in outer space. The Chinese "ping" implies harmony and achieving unity out of diversity. Our understanding of Peace has been obtained from both the rejection of violence and the pursuit of positive conditions. At the same time, this view is obtained from certain ethical, cultural and historical roots that have influenced today's peace thinking. THANK YOU!!