{"id":8448,"date":"2025-06-25T08:26:32","date_gmt":"2025-06-25T06:26:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/academy.grainesdepaix.org\/ressources\/negative-peace\/"},"modified":"2026-05-24T15:51:46","modified_gmt":"2026-05-24T13:51:46","slug":"negative-peace","status":"publish","type":"ressource","link":"https:\/\/academy.grainesdepaix.org\/en\/ressources\/negative-peace\/","title":{"rendered":"Negative peace"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

We should no longer define peace in the negative, because peace is not the absence of war, nor the opposite of war. Defining peace as the absence of war reduces peace to an empty, passive, incomplete and distant vision. The field of peace is much wider, because the field of violence is much wider than that of war. Nor is peace the absence of violence; it is the opposite of violence.(full text here<\/a>).<\/p>\n

We should no longer define peace in negative terms, because such definitions generate boredom, a lack of adrenalin, a feeling of having to be good, of being tied down, even a sense of powerlessness – in comparison with positive definitions of peace, which generate the desire to act and influence, which provide long-term opportunities for self-fulfilment and self-worth, and which motivate us to resolve fleeting conflicts.<\/p>\n

Negative peace<\/strong> describes a flat, fleeting, fragile state of being, which gives rise to distrust of the future and of others. Positive peace<\/strong> describes a dynamic, a feeling of action, aiming for durability and therefore confidence in the future and in others.<\/p>\n

Read positive definitions of peace by clicking on Peace here<\/a>.  <\/p>\n

Here, however, are a few examples of negative<\/em> definitions of peace from reference sources:<\/p>\n

Example 1:<\/span><\/h5>\n

The state of a people who are not at war.<\/p>\n

Source: Dictionnaire de l’Acad\u00e9mie fran\u00e7aise – 4th edition<\/i><\/p>\n

Example 2:<\/h5>\n

The state of countries or nations that are not at war.
Cessation of the state of war between two or more belligerents.
Absence of social strife or unrest.
The state of a group or individuals that are not in quarrel or conflict.
Absence of agitation or noise in a place.<\/p>\n

Source: Larousse online<\/i><\/p>\n

Example 3:<\/h5>\n

Regular, non-violent relations between one nation and another.
Absence of quarrels and unrest.
Treaty ending a war.<\/p>\n

Source: Mediadico-TV5 <\/i><\/p>\n

Example 4:<\/h5>\n

Peace usually refers to a state of calm or tranquility, as well as the absence of disturbance, agitation or conflict. It is universally regarded as an ideal.
– In collective terms, peace means the absence of violence or war between human groups.  In this sense, peace between nations is the goal of many men and organizations, such as the now defunct League of Nations and the UN.
– On an individual level, peace also refers to a personal state of mind, free from anger, fear and, more generally, negative feelings. It is therefore desired for oneself and possibly for others, to the point of becoming a greeting or a life goal. <\/p>\n

Source: Wikipedia<\/i><\/p>\n

See also the article \u00c9volution historique du mot paix (Historical evolution of the word peace<\/a>), as well as quotations<\/a> on this theme(Galtung<\/a>, Johnson, etc.).<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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