- a What is conflict?
- b What are the causes of conflict?
- c How does conflict influence our actions and decisions?
- d How many conflicts are there in human world?
- e How can we live in harmony despite conflict?
Conflict
Conflict means a disagreement among groups or individuals characterized by antagonism and hostility. It is mainly caused by the opposition of one party to another, and it comes as a result of one party’s attempt to reach an objective different from the other party’s goal. Conflict is an inevitable part of life, as all of us possess our own opinions, ideas and sets of beliefs. We have our own ways of thinking and we act accordingly. As a result, we find ourselves in conflict in different scenarios with other individuals or groups of people. Then conflict influences our actions and decisions. A clash of thoughts and ideas is a part of the human experience; so conflict comes naturally.
It can be seen as an opportunity for learning and understanding our differences. Again, conflict in the human world may concern either economy or value or power. It can be interpersonal or intrapersonal, intergroup or intragroup. Interpersonal conflict means a conflict between two persons. Intrapersonal conflict occurs within an individual and takes place in a person’s mind. Intragroup conflict happens among individuals within a team. And intergroup conflict is seen among teams within an organization. We can all live in harmony despite conflicts if we know how to manage these issues.
Peace Movement
Peace movements are social movement. It is a movement that aims at achieving objectives such as end of a specific conflict or all wars as well as reducing violence between humans and achieving peace in the world. It is fundamentally one-sided “anti-war movement” that is founded on the conviction that humans shouldn’t wage war against one another as well as engage in violent conflict about race, religion ideology, language or natural resources. The objectives for the peace movements comprise the promotion of peace as well as non-violent resistance, demonstrations or peace camps, and supporting anti-war political leaders, banning guns, assisting activists in achieving peace, etc.
While peace movement organizations might have different goals but their primary objective is the sustainability of peace. Peace movement activists also fight the growth of dangerous weapons and technologies including nuclear weapons. Through these means, it seeks to create an environment free of hate and hatred. Peace movements first began took place between 1815 and 1616. The first of these movements to take place in the USA was the New York Peace Society founded in 1815. Peace organizations were established in a variety of countries. In the United Nations, United Nations was established with the main goal of preserving peace and to resolve conflicts between states across the globe. Since then, a variety of agreements have been signed between several nations, including the nuclear non-proliferation treaty. Everyone wants peace and supports the non-violence principles.
- a What does peace refer to?
- b How do you define peace?
- c Why is peace necessary?
- d What do war and conflict create?
- e What will happen if peace is established around the world?
Importance of Global Peace
The issue of war and peace has always been a focal issue in all periods of history of the world. Today establishment of peace in the world is one of the major challenges for the world leaders. Peace doesn’t only refer to the end of war, rather it is more than that. It is, a condition characterized by peaceful, cooperative and harmonious conduct of the global nations with a view to secure an all round sustainable development of the people of the world. To make our all the development efforts successful there is no alternative to establish peace in the world.
Peace is necessary to ensure human rights around the world. We cannot think of a better life, better international relationship and better world without peace. War or conflict has nothing good in them. They only bring destructions. They create a sense of insecurity to live on the earth. Establishment of peace will remove hostility among powerful countries of the world. The modern age has seen different peace movements that have goals including advocacy of pacifism, non-violent resistance, demonstrations, peace camps, supporting anti-war politicians and peace activists, etc. We should remember that we are not for the world, but the world is for us. So it is important for us to establish peace around us to exist.
