Working for Peace in Situations of Conflict

Working for Peace in Situations of Conflict

Introduction

Throughout history, the concepts of peace and conflict have been closely intertwined and it requires a full vision of peace because peace means more than the absence of war and conflict, it is a dynamic concept that must be considered in positive terms. The presence of social justice and harmony, the possibility that human beings make their full potential and enjoy their rights and live dignified and sustainable life. Conflict is inherent to peace. The parties to a conflict whether it is political, cultural, economic, social or interpersonal, require building relationships of trust and mediation, consensus and reconciliation. These processes are the most effective way to resolve conflicts between "enemies" and "opponents" or "antagonistic", to promote cooperation and to achieve a goal of mutual benefit. It also builds on the encouraging possibilities of power that are rooted in civil society and nongovernmental organizations. We must consider conflict as a natural part of our lives as inevitable that can takes place steadily in every level of our everyday life.

Discussion

Peace has long been understood in political science in two quite distinct ways. The dominant conception of peace has been the absence of war. The very word peace (and the French paix) derives from the Latin pax, meaning an agreement—a pact—to refrain from hostilities. This is sometimes characterized as “negative peace” as opposed to “positive peace,” with the latter denoting not just the absence of direct violence but also the absence of indirect or structural violence, sometimes described as the presence of justice. This entry surveys the religious and normative context within which peace came to be understood, the various ways in which peace has been seen as a subject of research, and the diverse explanations offered by political science on the conditions for peace.

In political science, conflicts can be analyzed as the outcomes of a certain kind of relationship, comparing relationships of cooperation and competition with those of conflict. When there is cooperation, humans work together in pursuit of common objectives. When there is competition, they struggle with one another in contests governed by rules that determine who succeeds and that identify the sanctions to be imposed for noncompliance. When there is conflict, either no rules are recognized or any relevant rules are not properly enforced. While rules may be embodied in laws or treaties, there may be dispute about their application. Moral principles may sometimes be regarded as rules of conduct. It should be noted that even in armed conflicts between states, offenders can be punished for war crimes, while the Geneva Conventions specify the ways in which civilians are to be protected in international conflicts.

Dilemmas face by NGOs in a conflict zone

In the last decade, the NGO sector has achieved a remarkable expansion, and has even influence certain conflict resolutions. Opinions on the nature of these companies and the role they can play in an armed conflict are still much divided. On one hand it is an inevitable ...