Conflict and Peace: Conflict and Peace: Anthropological Approaches Anthropological Approaches

MA in Conflict, Peace and Development Studies (DCPDS)MA in Conflict, Peace and Development Studies (DCPDS)Semester: IISemester: IICPD – 502BCPD – 502BUnit: IUnit: I

Adhik Badal

Tribhuvan University

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What is Peace?What is Peace?

“Peace determines not only about the survival of humanity, but also the quality of life for future generation”Laslie E. Sponsel

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Emergence of Peace StudiesEmergence of Peace Studies

Quincy Wright: A Study of War (1946)Peace Research emerged in the 1940s and it

has flourished since 1960sGrowth and Expansion (Institutions,

Journals, University Courses)Scholarship, Research, SymposiaPeace Action has a long history (Civil right

movements, anti war movements)

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Anthropological CritiqueAnthropological CritiquePremise: negative peace/absence of warConcerns: security, stability, order)Level: national (civil), international and GlobalTheme: History of arms control, nuclear

weapons, alternative security systemFocus: violent conflict, or war

(The working assumption was that a knowledge of the causes and function of war will help to reduce the frequency and intensity of war and to find alternative ways of conflict resolution that will lead to a peaceful world)

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Alternative: Positive PeaceAlternative: Positive PeaceSocial justice, freedom, equality,

cooperation, and not just the absence of war.

“A condition of society in which exploitation is minimized, eliminated altogether, and in which there is neither overt violence, nor the more subtle phenomenon of structural violence”

David Barash

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Mutual Relevance of Mutual Relevance of Anthropology and Peace studiesAnthropology and Peace studies

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Relevance of Anthropology for peace StudiesRelevance of Anthropology for peace Studies

1. Holistic approach (Interdisciplinary & multidisciplinary)

2. Global thinking (Human Pre history to cross cultural studies)

3. Micro studies4. Talks about cultural diversity and

relativity5. Gives detailed analysis of culture that are

relatively non-violent and peaceful as well as those that are relatively violent.

6. Incorporates the theory of human nature.7. Theory of tolerance.

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Relevance of Peace studies for AnthropologyRelevance of Peace studies for Anthropology

Catalyst for rethinking anthropology (history, theory, data and practice)

Provides background for better understanding the militarization of the third world.

Positive concept of peace can estimate a broader and more balanced approach to research and teaching regarding violence and war and nonviolence and peace.

Peace studies could help anthropology to develop an agenda of priorities for research, teaching, and action. 804/20/23

What is violence?What is violence?

Violence can never be understood solely in terms of its physicality – force, assault, or the infliction of pain alone. Violence also includes assaults on the personhood, dignity, sense of worth or value of the victim.

(Nancy Scheper-Hughes and Philippe Bourgois)

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Structural ViolenceStructural Violence

Not just overt armed violence, but everyday, routine violence everywhere, not only III World

InvisibleCivilization tolerates/ indulges in

selective violence

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Symbolic ViolenceSymbolic Violence

“Symbolic violence is the violence which is exercised upon a social agent with his or her complicity”. -Pierre Bourdieu

(the general appearance, posture, or physical state of a

patient, especially with regard to susceptibility to disease)

The case of gender domination can be taken as a good example of symbolic violence.

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Anthropology incorporates all types of Anthropology incorporates all types of violenceviolence

Direct Violence (Genocide and Ethnocide)TerrorRevolutionary violence

What is War?What is War?

“War as a subset of human aggression involving the use of organized force between politically independent groups”Robert Carnerio (1967)

“Sanctioned use of lethal weapons by members of one society against members of another society”Anthony Wallace (1968)

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Why Conflict, Violence and War?Why Conflict, Violence and War?

Biological, genetic?Anomie(social instability),

normlessness?Economic ruin?Political disorganization?Resource competition ?Electoral/political competition?Essentialization,

dehumanization(britalize,desensitize,degrade) of the other?

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Thank you for your Thank you for your patience!patience!

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