Peace, Needs and Utopia

Abstract

The well-entrenched minimalist notion of peace has recently been augmented by a notion of positive peace, defined as the absence of structural violence. This paper opens with a critique of Johan Galtung's usage, which conflates ideas better approached separately. It then criticizes the notion of human needs used by Christian Bay as the normative foundation for his idea of positive peace, and by comparing positive peace with Berlin's notion of positive liberty highlights the danger that positive peace might be pursued with direct violence. Despite what Popper argues, the peaceful Utopias of Bay and Galtung need not be pursued with direct violence. However, as they could justify the instrumental use of direct violence, they demand stronger normative foundations than Galtung and Bay have hitherto provided.

Post-conflict Policies in Colombia. An approach of the potentiality of South-South Cooperation (SSC) in the peace process

“…That concept has been denominated as the absence of structural violence (Maley, 1985). Or even with the distinction between nega 3 tive peace, the absence of armed conflict, and positive peace, the presence of co-operative and harmonious relationships (Page, 2010).…”

Climate Change and Forest Dynamics: A Soils Perspective

“…[186][187][188][189][190][191] This large-scale deforestation event may still influence current vegetation patterns in African rainforests. 192,193…”

Feminism and Peace Studies

“…One of the criticisms levelled against the adherents of a broad view of peace relates to their failure to spell out in detail a coherent ethical framework in defence of their views (Maley 1985). Even the peace research tradition adopting a positive conception of peace tends to operate within a Kantian ethical framework, which is abstract, universal and impersonal.…”