When we talk about peace, most of us think of it simply as the absence of war. But peace scholars recognize that this understanding only scratches the surface. The concept of peace is dual-faceted, consisting of negative peace and positive peace. Understanding this duality is crucial for analyzing international relations and developing effective conflict resolution strategies.
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Introducing the dual concepts
The distinction between negative and positive peace was first introduced into academic literature by Norwegian peace researcher Johan Galtung, often called the father of peace studies. This framework revolutionized how we think about peace and conflict resolution. Rather than viewing peace as a single state, Galtung recognized that peace exists on a spectrum, with different qualities and characteristics.
This dual understanding emerged from recognizing that the mere absence of violence does not necessarily create the conditions for lasting harmony. Two countries might not be at war, yet their relationship could still be characterized by mistrust, isolation, and underlying tensions. Conversely, nations actively cooperating might occasionally experience conflicts, yet their fundamental relationship remains peaceful. These observations led to the development of two distinct concepts that help us understand the full spectrum of peace.
Defining negative peace
Negative peace refers to the absence of violence. When a ceasefire is enacted or when organized violence between major groups like nations or ethnicities stops, negative peace ensues. It is called “negative” because something undesirable stopped happening – the violence stopped, the oppression ended.
Consider the relationship between distant countries that have no interaction with each other. They are not at war, but they also have no cooperation, trade, or cultural exchange. This describes negative peace: peaceful coexistence without active engagement. The Korean War provides a classic example. Though fighting stopped in 1953 with an armistice agreement, North and South Korea never signed a formal peace treaty. The guns fell silent, but underlying tensions and structural issues remain unresolved.
Negative peace is often the first goal in conflict resolution. Peacekeeping operations, for instance, utilize third parties to prevent violence from breaking out. These interventions enforce negative peace by stopping active hostilities. While this is an essential step, it does not address the deeper conditions that caused the conflict in the first place.
Defining positive peace
Positive peace goes far beyond the mere absence of violence. It is filled with positive content such as restoration of relationships, creation of social systems that serve the needs of the whole population, and constructive resolution of conflict. This represents the desired state where societies interact constructively and cooperatively.
Positive peace is built on sustainable investments in economic development and institutions as well as societal attitudes that foster peace. It involves patterns of cooperation and integration between major groups. When nations develop cooperative relationships, shared institutions, and mutual understanding, they create self-reinforcing cycles that make violence increasingly unlikely.
Key elements of positive peace include: Social justice and equity, where all members of society have equal opportunities and rights. Strong institutions and good governance that provide transparent and accountable systems. Economic opportunities that give people access to jobs, education, and advancement. Social cohesion and trust that build bridges between different communities and foster shared identities.
The transformation of Western Europe illustrates this progression. Countries that fought devastating wars for centuries built positive peace through economic integration, shared institutions, and cultural exchange, making future conflicts virtually impossible. The European Union represents an institutional framework for positive peace, where cooperation has become so deeply embedded that war between member states is now unthinkable.
Peace and conflict coexistence
An important clarification: positive peace does not mean the total absence of conflict. Violence may occur without conflict, and conflict may be resolved by means of non-violent mechanisms. Peace exists where people interact non-violently and manage their conflicts positively, with respectful attention to the legitimate needs and interests of all concerned. Occasional conflicts may arise even in positive peace, but they are resolved constructively rather than violently.
A four-fold classification
The distinction between negative and positive peace leads to a four-fold classification of interstate relations. This framework helps us understand the different types of relationships that can exist between nations.
War: This represents organized group violence between nations or major groups. It is the opposite of both negative and positive peace, characterized by active hostilities and armed conflict.
Negative peace: In this state, there is no violence but also no other form of interaction. The best characterization is “peaceful passive coexistence”. Countries may have diplomatic relations but minimal cooperation, trade, or cultural exchange. The relationship between many distant nations falls into this category.
Positive peace: This describes relationships where cooperation exists but is interspersed with occasional outbreaks of violence. Despite sporadic tensions or conflicts, the fundamental pattern is one of cooperation and integration. Many neighboring countries with historical tensions but growing economic ties fit this description.
Unqualified peace: This represents the ideal state where the absence of violence is combined with a pattern of cooperation. Nations in this category have deep institutional ties, extensive trade relationships, cultural exchanges, and mechanisms for resolving disputes peacefully. There are no violent conflicts, and cooperation is the norm.
This classification helps analysts assess the quality of peace between nations and identify what steps might move a relationship from one category to another. A relationship characterized by negative peace might be strengthened through trade agreements and cultural exchanges, gradually moving toward positive peace.
The value of positive peace
While negative peace is necessary, positive peace is the valued ideal worth striving for. Negative and positive peace are not contradictory but complementary. There is only so much progress that can be made toward cooperation and sustainable peace when there is still active violence. Similarly, a lack of violent conflict does not mean that a society is at peace.
Think of positive peace as analogous to health. Just as health is not merely the absence of disease but a state of physical, mental, and social well-being, positive peace is not merely the absence of war but a state of societal well-being. It is a condition so prized that institutions are built to protect it, making it a central focus for peace theory and movements.
The value of positive peace lies in its sustainability. Negative peace alone is insufficient for lasting stability because without addressing underlying causes of conflict, it remains fragile and temporary. The recurring violence in various parts of the world demonstrates that stopping violence without building positive relationships leads to cyclical conflicts.
Building positive peace
Creating positive peace requires sustained commitment over years or even decades. This long-term perspective is essential for creating lasting change, though it can be challenging in a world where political leaders face short electoral cycles and international attention often moves quickly from one crisis to another.
Peacebuilding works toward replacing structures that reinforce war and violence with those that reinforce peace, often by targeting and eliminating issues like inequality. This process involves strengthening institutions, promoting inclusive governance, addressing economic disparities, and fostering intercultural dialogue. Civil society organizations, community leaders, and grassroots movements play a crucial role in building positive peace by healing relationships between divided communities and holding institutions accountable.
The pursuit of positive peace also requires what is known as nonviolent communication – speaking and listening in ways that emphasize meeting the needs of others and utilizing compassion. When those on both sides of a conflict believe their needs are being heard and acknowledged, they can focus on working toward solutions rather than taking out their anger.
What do you think? How can societies move from negative peace to positive peace? What role can individuals play in building the institutions and attitudes necessary for lasting peace in their communities?
References
- https://www.irenees.net/bdf_fiche-notions-186_en.html
- https://www.visionofhumanity.org/introducing-the-concept-of-peace/
- https://blogs.gwu.edu/ccas-panamericanos/peace-studies-wiki/peace-studies-wiki/approaches-to-peace/negative-and-positive-peace-framework/
- https://banotes.org/conflict-resolution-peace-building/negative-vs-positive-peace-international-dynamics/
- https://www.nonviolenceny.org/post/why-are-negative-peace-and-positive-peace-important
- https://polsci.institute/conflict-resolution-peace-building/negative-vs-positive-peace-difference/
- https://www.studocu.com/in/document/university-of-delhi/ba-honours-political-science/unit-4-peace-and-conflict/7797122
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