Conflict is a part and parcel of human existence. We face different sets of conflicts at various stages of our dynamic lives. Conflict can be within ourselves, in our minds. And it can be outside our minds, with another individual or group of individuals. It can range from a small quarrel with a colleague to a civil war. But, despite conflict being so embedded in our lives, we are barely taught ways to deal with it. Rather, conflicts are often brushed under the carpet, ignored and at best, suppressed, if recognised. And these suppressed conflicts often manifest in the form of violence. Probably, this is the reason why ours is a culture of violence.
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This is not to say that there has never been any attempt to inculcate a culture of peace and tolerance within societies. There have been multiple peace movements, both religious and secular, visible in history. As mentioned by Ian M. Harris in his work ‘History of Peace Education’, human societies have preserved their community-based peace education strategies to combat conflicts peacefully and maintain their culture of non-violence. However, a formal, institutionalised and coherent body of peace literature is a more recent development. This begs the question - ‘Why is peace education important?’
WHAT IS PEACE EDUCATION?
Before delving into the importance of peace education, it becomes important to understand what it actually means. It was mainly in the aftermath of the Second World War that peace studies formally came into being. Johan Galtung, a pioneer in this field, founded the Peace Research Institute in Oslo, a first of its type. Since then, many peace and conflict research institutes have mushroomed throughout the world and peace education has gained immense importance. In simple terms, peace education involves equipping human beings with the appropriate knowledge, skills and attitudes to handle conflicts peacefully and to create mutually acceptable solutions. It aims to promote a positive attitude towards conflicts and to present this otherwise undesirable social situation as an opportunity to grow. It aims to make people aware of the possibility of solving conflicts by using different peaceful approaches, mechanisms and techniques instead of resorting to violent means.
WHY IS IT IMPORTANT?
We are living in a world where conflicts have taken extreme forms. In the past century, generations of human beings have witnessed perhaps the worst manifestations of conflict ranging from lethal world wars to deadly civil wars. Communal, racial and ethnic flare-ups have become common in contemporary times. From the Black Lives Matter movement to the humanitarian crisis of Rohingya Refugees, one root cause that remains unchanged is the issue of unresolved grievances and lack of trust among communities. Polarisation, extremism and an almost arrogant unwillingness to understand the other side has halted the road to peace. time and again. This is where the role of peace education becomes important. Concepts of human rights, non-violence and social justice are central to this area of study.
Peace education, not only works towards providing individuals with the necessary tools and mechanisms to tackle conflicts but more importantly, involves inculcating a problem-solving attitude as well. It makes them perceive conflict as an opportunity to transform the structural conditions that are responsible for the conflict in the first place. It makes people realise that conflict is not a problem, rather a chance that should not be suppressed. Conflicts should be utilised to bring constructive changes in existing bonds and relationships. Peace education is proven capable of bringing positive change in the attitude and mindset of people towards whom they consider their enemy. It is crucial for peace education to be given its rightful place in school curriculums so that every child gets to learn how to tackle conflicts peacefully and avoid them from turning violent.
Diversity Dialogue is one such youth-led project committed to countering hate speech and providing peace education in India and across the world. Our sensitisation workshops are designed to help create a better, safer and healthier environment for our future generation. To know more, click here!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Prakriti Prakash is a second-year Political Science student at Kamala Nehru College, Delhi University. She is passionate about social work and wishes to contribute her bit towards building a more egalitarian and peaceful world.
