Peace and Conflict Vocab

Direct Violence

intentional and personal violence that is intended to hurt others. The negative impact could be physical or cognitive. It is instantly recognized as hurtful.

murder of charlie kirk at UVU campus by gunshot.

structural violence

indirect violence through structures in society hat allow violence like exploitation to occur. It is difficult to place blame or have accountability for structural violence.

the kaffala system in Saudi Arabia allows works to be abused and exploited by their employers. This can be seen with taking the passports of migrant workers, their phones, isolating them from anything but work.

cultural violence

existence of prevailing or prominent social norms that make direct or structural violence be seen as acceptable.

far-right belief that Mexicans are criminals and illegal and therefore deserve to be mistreated and deported. This allows for the mistreatment and wrongful deportation of Mexicans through ICE and the trump administration be seen as acceptable,

negative peace

the absence of direct or overt violence such as war through a ceasefire. But the underlying tensions (structural/cultural) that fuel conflict still exist.

ceasefire between India and Pakistan in the Kashmir region but underlying tensions that lead to conflict such as political (territorial dispute) and military tension still exist.

positive peace

absence of direct violence as well as the removal of unjust structures and ideas within society (structural and cultural violence). implementation of structures/institutions that work towards justice, equity and harmony.

Applied to India-Pakistan conflict with Kashmir:

Reach a bilateral adherence to ceasefire through a binding agreement like a peace treaty elimination direct violence.

Demilitarize in and around Kashmir.

Ensure political representation and investments in infrastructure like education and hospitals, minimizing structural violence.

Counter nationalist rhetoric meant to divide with open discussions to humanize the adversary such as dialogue opportunities through institutions implemented for improving bi-lateral relations to promote living in harmony.

balance of power

the best way to ensure national security is to ensure no single country is powerful enough to control others in the region or world. when states have comparable power going to war becomes too dangerous/risky therefore, maintaining peace.

A balance of power approach can be seen through NATO, where collective security deters Russia from directly attacking a member state. Under NATO’s Article 5, an attack on one member is treated as an attack on all, meaning Russia would face the combined military power of the alliance, making war too costly and risky even with proportionate force. This helps maintain peace between Russia and NATO states, though it does not prevent Russia from exerting power in non-NATO regions; therefore, similar alliances among less powerful states in regions such as Africa or the Middle East could increase collective power and deter dominance by superpowers.

feminist peace

how gender, class and disability among other parts of identity can make oppression worse and show how power is distributed in society. Also trying to address this to make things fairer.

destructive conflict

war and abusive behavior

Russia’s invasion and war in Ukraine.

constructive conflict

important and necessary to test/disagree with ideas and tightly held ideals as a society for productive progress.

social activism against Saudi’s laws for women’s right to drive in Saudi Arabia that was gained in 2018.

strategic non-violence

method of struggle where unarmed people confront an adversary through collective action (protests, strikes) to build power and achieve political goals.

BLM protests following the murder of George Floyd to raise awareness and accountability of police brutality against black people in the US.

non-violent resistance

peaceful and non-physical methods of achieving political/social change such as through boycotts, strikes and sit-ins.

large pro democracy protests in Hong Kong from 2019-2020 regarding extradition to China that was being introduced.

Pacifism

philosophical position that rejects the use of violence on moral grounds. has a more positive position in a promotion of peace.

quakers who are a religious group reject war and violence in all forms derived from their religious beliefs.

Geneva Conventions

form the basis of international humanitarian law that outlines legal standards during war/conflict such as the treatment if POWs.

the director of the ICRC stated that they do not have access to detainees in Gaza which transgresses a right outlined in the Geneva conventions.

primary disputants

primary parties to conflict that oppose another in conflict. direct stake in conflict

Russia and Ukraine are primary disputants in their war as their behavior conflicts and both have a direct stake in the conflict.

interstate conflict

armed conflict occurring between 2 or more sovereign states

Russia and Ukraine war

intrastate conflict

armed conflict occurring within states between 2+ groups from within the same country

In Sudan the SAF and the RSF are 2 groups from Sudan fighting in that region over power and resources.

secondary parties to conflict

Have an indirect stake in the outcome of a conflict. Often provide assistance to a primary disputant of the conflict but is never directly involved in the conduct though they may benefit from supporting a primary disputant.

The UAE supporting the RSF through supplying arms for perceived economic or regional benefit from the outcome of the conflict.

(preferential trade/diplomatic relation for support)

their parties to conflict

also known as bystanders who are not engaged and nuetral and are unwilling to speak out about atrocities committed or actively support reconciliation efforts.

violent state actors

individuals or groups who carry out acts of violence on behalf or despite of the state itself. Including those who supply and support them to make their actions possible such as military leaders and soldiers.

Vladimir Putin carrying out acts of violence through the invasion of Ukraine on behalf of Russia as the head of state.

collective defense

NATO’s primary military role of collective defense of their member nations. Through assistance based on the magnitude of the situation.

Was invoked following 9/11 but can theoretically happen again based on article 5 of the NATO charter if an armed attack occurs to 1+ member nation in Europe/North America then it is like they have all been attacked and have to take what action they see necessary to redeem security of the NATO area.

violent non-state actors

actors who are independent of a government who use violence to gain political control like rule over a region.

boko haram- non-state militant group who employs violence to takeover the Nigerian government.

non-violent state actors

actors who work non-violently non behalf of states to make change.

UN peacekeeping mission in Haiti 2011 to support stability and security in Haiti especially fowling the earthquake in 2010. They are non violent state actors because the UN as an origination is composed of and funded by individual states.

non-violent non-state actors

actors who are independent of a state who use peaceful methods to advocate for social, environmental and humanitarian changes.

Doctors Without Borders is a NGO that is working on the ground in Gaza to provide healthcare as well as using their online platform to advocate for humanitarian change like the protection of healthcare workers and the end to the genocide in Gaza.

Track I Diplomacy

official and formal interactions/negotiations between governments of states such as through the head of states or diplomats. This is to manage international relations, resolve conflicts and create treaties.

After official Iranian-Saudi delegation in Beijing in March of 2023 the two countries agreed to restore diplomatic relations like the reopening of embassies.

Track II Diplomacy

informal interactions between non-state actors from conflicting parties to build trust, understanding. Can be through influential non-state actors like the entertainment and sport industries as well as think tanks and humanitarian organizations.

Since 2010, Delhi-Islamabad dialogue as track II diplomacy by the CDR (centre for dialogue and reconciliation) through discussions with academics and policy experts from both countries to support peace building. (Pakistan and India)

Non-state conflict

conflict between 2 organized groups, neither of them are states. They can occur in 1 country or across borders and can be composed of formally/informally organized groups such political party supporters or those of a common religion.

inter-gang conflict between gang rivals G9 who control most of the capital, Port Au Prince and G-Pep.

Extra-state conflict

conflict between a state and non-state entity that occurs outside the state’s borders and may not be confined to the territory of one state.

US as a state entity fighting against the non-state terrorist group ISIS across Syria and Iraq to degrade their military capability and regional power.

Identity conflict

when citizens of a country feel threatened or attacked in a way that challenges or minimizes their identity as citizens of that country.

Russia denial of Ukraine’s sovereignty as a real state which threatens the national and cultural identities of Ukrainian citizens.

Interest-based conflict

Cause of conflict through the desire to defend an individuals or group’s interests. can be related to economic and power differences.

Interest based trade conflict between the US and China as the US wants to protects its jobs and China wants to protect its market share. Common goals and goals make negotiation possible

Human needs theory of conflict

suggests people have basic rights that must be met to maintain harmony and so that conflict does not ensure. And that human rights must be meet to resolve a conflict.

An interpretation of the human needs theory of conflict of the proposed solution of a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas would not be seen as a sustainable solution because the solution does not address the unmet human rights of the Palestinian people such as cultural security and belonging.

ideological conflict

ideological conflict occurs when the perspective of 2+ actors clash on beliefs and values that form their worldview.

Hong Kongers value democracy and freedom in their view of what governance should be whereas, the Chinese government believes that Hong Kong should operate under China’s laws which is a one party authoritarian rule.

"‘Just War’ theory

seeks to ensure that war are morally justifiable and conducted in a just way.

Obama directly referenced the just war theory in his Nobel peace prize acceptance speech stating his commitment to the concept of just war through commitment to humanity.

Symmetric conflict

opposing forces that have similar strength in military, support and resource capabilities.

Ukraine and Russia have a symmetric conflict as Ukraine’s support from its allies creates symmetry in terms of capability.

Asymmetric Conflict

Conflict between a much stronger and weaker party with different capacities.

Israel is a world superpower which extremely advanced military technology and warfare and has backing from other world powers like the US wheres, Hamas lacks resources and funding and uses guerrilla warfare techniques.

Guerilla Warfare

use of hit and run tactics by small mobile groups of fighters who use their knowledge of the land and sympathetic civilians to fight larger more traditional military forces.

Hamas’s surprise attack on October 7 of a music festival. asymmetric in nature against a much stronger military.

Counterinsurgency (COIN)

strategies and operations undertaken by a government or occupying power to suppress weaken or eliminate an insurgency. Clear-Hold-Build

US-Taliban. efforts taken by the US military to win the hearts and minds of Afghanis and strengthen Afghanistan’s government to suppress the Taliban by severing their support and resources. However, the US ultimately withdrew and failed at hold-build due to factors such as the inability of western military forces to understand the operational enviornment of Afghanistan well enough to build a surviving government.

Terrorism

asymmetrical warfare characterized by violence and targeting of non-combatants.

Shooting of 2 national guard members in Washington DC in November 2025.

Cyber-conflict

state or non-state actors use digital tools to attack, defend or exploit information systems of a party they are in conflict with.

Between 2024-2025, Iranian hackers that targeted organization in Israeli technology and gained access to data and credentials. (Muddywater)

non-violent conflict

struggle between opposing groups pursuing incompatible goals through peaceful methods without resorting to violence.

environmental activist group Stop Oil gluing themselves to famous art in museums or sit-ins, traffic obstruction to further their message. they use non-violent tactics.

Peacemaking

measures to address conflicts in progress and usually involves diplomatic action to bring hostile parties to a negotiated agreement.

After official Iranian-Saudi delegation in Beijing in March of 2023 the two countries agreed to restore diplomatic relations like the reopening of embassies.

Mediation

process of conflict management that involves the intervention of an outsider (individual/group/organization with values, resources and interests of their own) into a conflict between 2+ states/actors.

After official Iranian-Saudi delegation in Beijing in March of 2023 the two countries agreed to restore diplomatic relations like the reopening of embassies with China mediating this.

peace treaties

formal agreements to end a conflict that include peace terms.

2016 peace agreement signed by the Colombian government and the FARC revolutionary armed forces of Columbia, ending 50 year conflict.

Sanctions

measures of encouragement or punishment designed to reinforce a decision or make a policy authoritative.

In 2022 after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine Russian delegations were banned form attending the Cannes film festival.

embargoes

specific type of sanction on a country that can be comprehensive or selective usually implemented as a punishment or tool to pressure country to change its behavior or policies.

Western embargoes on Russian energy (oil/gas) following their 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

election observers

help prevent and deter conflict by ensuring that election are transparent, fair and credible. adds legitimacy to an election and its results.

The Carter Center has trained election observers to support legitimate elections and has observed more tan 125 election in 40 countries in 2024 alone.

Peacekeeping

operations designed to maintain international peace and security through the deployment of UN peacekeepers. Purpose of the force is to be interpositional.

UN Haiti Peacekeeping mission to maintain peace and security and be interpositional.

Genocide

acts committed with intent in whole or in part a national, ethnic or religious group.

Israel’s coordinated invasion, bombing and border manipulation to deliberately eradicate the indigenous Palestinian population in the Gaza Strip.

Peacebuilding

Process of building positive peace through building structures and cultures that are a foundation for peace to flourish and conflict to be minimized.

Since 2010, Delhi-Islamabad dialogue as track II diplomacy by the CDR (centre for dialogue and reconciliation) through discussions with academics and policy experts from both countries to support peace building. (Pakistan and India)

Restorative Justice

philosophy and approach that seeks to address the harm caused by criminal or wrongful acts through a process of reconciliation. Focuses on healing and reintegration.

Norways restorative Justin system uses restorative justice by focusing on offender-victim mediation, education and therapy.

Truth and reconciliation commissions

set up to investigate and report on past injustices and human rights abuses in societies that have experienced prolonged periods of conflict or authoritarian rule. Uncover and acknowledge truth of what happened during these periods.

A 2015 Canadian truth and reconciliation commission submission that investigate the truth about Indian residential schools funded by the Canadian government and churches which revealed grave impacts on indigenous people and their culture.