In many ways, the study of human culture is the study of conflict. Conflict is an inevitable part of life. We face conflicts throughout life from the moment we first draw breath until the moment we die. One can view life as a series of challenges, as each person attempts to get their needs met in some way, shape or form.

We may not always be aware of the conflicts that challenge our lives, our relationships, and our societies. Often, a conflict is not visible until some sort of triggering event makes the conflict apparent or demands a resolution. However, conflicts are always present, lurking beneath the surface. Understanding the ways in which conflicts function can help us handle them better when they inevitably arise in our lives.

At the core of conflicts are human needs. Often, the surface of a conflict will appear to center upon a particular crux point — such as an aspect of religious doctrine or a civilization attempting to conquer another. However, underneath the surface are needs that a person or a community feels are being threatened. When people feel their needs are not being met, or that their identities, physical safety, or emotional well-being are being threatened, they often will respond with escalation. Escalation intensifies the conflict as a means to communicate the importance of these deeper needs and an effort to get them met.

Unfortunately, when left unchecked or when sanctioned by certain belief systems, escalations often result in violence. Violence can take many forms, including obvious physical acts of violence such as war or assault but also less obvious forms of violence, such as emotional abuse, economic exploitation, or forcing another person to conform one’s culture. Thus, we will consider the topic of violence broadly, from more obvious to more subtle forms of oppression between people. 

Peace & Conflict Studies asks the central question: How can we address conflict situations peacefully without enacting violence, collaborating upon solutions that are beneficial for everyone involved? 

As we move through these modules, think about the ways in which conflict arises on multiple levels: personally, interpersonally, locally, nationally, and globally. We will learn styles of addressing conflict and the basic human needs underlying conflicts, as well as the principles of non-violent communication and conflict transformation. Developed by John Paul Lederach (2014, 2017) conflict transformation views conflicts as life-giving opportunities that allow us to envision possible futures in which processes of change can be collaboratively explored that are win-win for everyone involved.

We hope that providing this lens through which to view the human experience will help us all reflect upon the ways in which we engage with conflict, including reflecting upon our own perceptions, values, beliefs, and experiences in order to better understand the nature of peace and conflict in our lives. Together, we can explore methods by which we can collaborate as global citizens to build a better future together based upon justice and respect for all people.

References

Lederach, John Paul. 2014. Little Book of Conflict Transformation: Clear Articulation of the Guiding Principles by a Pioneer in the Field. New York: Good Books.

Lederach, John Paul, and Heidi Burgess. 2017. “Conflict Transformation.” Beyond Intractability website.