Definitions of peace – towards enlargement
To define peace in a meaningful way, we need to define it in terms of everything that is present, felt and appreciated, and not just in terms of what is absent.
But peace encompasses more than just what’s there: it’s also a dynamic of convergence, i.e. a human dynamic of creative interactions aimed at convergence.
Positive peace – Negative peace
Several authors distinguish between negative and positive peace. Among them, Johan Galtung as early as 1964, and the Institute for Economics and Peace since 2010… These definitions continue to be refined…and we ourselves did so in 2007, with an approach more focused on how best to motivate for peace and thereby develop a culture of peace…
Inner peace – Interdependent peace
For some, the word peace evokes inner peace, for others peace between countries. But peace also encompasses interpersonal peace, intercultural peace, social peace and societal peace. And then there’s structural peace.
To group together these different forms of peace and differentiate them from inner peace, the term interdependent peace has been chosen here (a neologism chosen to replace the expression external peace, used previously), which emphasizes the interdependent nature of all peace between individuals, groups or countries.
Peace and non-violence – distinct but similar definitions
We hear people talk about inner peace, geopolitical peace, non-violent lifestyle choices or non-violent actions, sometimes without having clear definitions in hand to differentiate them. Here are some possible definitions that seek to clarify the notions of peace and non-violence…