SOCIOLOGY

Structural Violence



Structural Violence

What is Violence?

Violence is not a new phenomenon in the contemporary world. Already present in many myths and legends, it is an integral part of any the history of mankind, and remains ubiquitous on our screens and in the media, and closer to us in our everyday human relationships. Violence is a phenomenon that affects us all and that concerns us all. They would deny to be locked in the illusion of a peaceful world. Building a culture of peace and nonviolence necessarily involves understand the mechanisms of violence and its origins. This structural violence may find its root in a political or religious aspect or in the ideology of violence. Should also be emphasized that violence is not just an attitude or a behavior directed towards others: it may be violent to oneself also (Fischer, 2006).

What is Structural Violence?

The concept of "structural violence" was introduced by the Norwegian sociologist Johan Galtung. Galtung believes that the main cause of social conflict is displayed by the social systems of violence - cultural, structural and direct (private). In this cultural violence creates the conditions for the manifestation of structural and structural violence - to direct.

Direct violence is expressed in actions, frustrating basic human needs - in the survival, welfare, identity and freedom. "I see violence as an expense (not inevitable), caused by basic human needs, or even life in general, lowering the real level of their satisfaction below what is potentially possible." Such actions include murder, bodily injury, blockade, sanctions, poverty, the imposition of standards of another culture, repression, illegal repression, detention, exile.

Introducing the first new concept of structural violence, Galtung has assumed that if people are dying of hunger, when the world can feed them, or die from the disease, when there are medicines, then we can talk about the existence of structural violence, as the alternative structures theoretically can prevent these deaths. It includes death from starvation and disease, manipulation of the consciousness of citizens, limiting information, marginalization, isolation, social injustice in the distribution of resources, pollution, unequal chances. Structural violence differs from direct that acts indirectly, through public institutions. It is generally not recognized by individuals and social groups who are at its impact. In contrast to direct violence, which is variable and dynamic, structural violence is static and stable (Deutsch, 1973).

Galtung bring that structural violence in modern society is no less widespread and significant than the traditional physical violence. Thus, the phenomenon of structural violence is described by the following provisions:

1) The structural violence is a natural phenomenon, because between social groups, there are some differences, especially in positions of power, which are reflected in the structure of social interaction;

2) A structural violence is understood in the sense of social injustice of unequal distribution of resources and unequal life chances;

3) In the category of structural violence includes only those phenomena which could have been avoided. Restrictions are removable, if alternative social structures could theoretically prevent them;

4) Structural violence, as a ...