Gg Flashcards
What is the definition of conflict according to the IB and Galtung?
IB: “The dynamic process of actual or perceived opposition between individuals or groups over positions, interests, or values.”
Galtung: “Actors in pursuit of incompatible goals.”
What is latent conflict and what causes it?
Latent conflict consists of hidden tensions that haven’t escalated into visible disputes. It is rooted in systemic inequalities, discrimination, or political repression.
Example: Myanmar (pre-2021 coup).
Define overt conflict and provide an example.
Overt conflict is open and visible: protests, wars, revolutions. It may be violent or non-violent, destructive or transformative.
Example: Syrian Civil War (initial protests → civil war).
What is direct violence?
Physical, observable violence where actors and victims are identifiable.
Examples:
Russian invasion of Ukraine (2022)
US police brutality (George Floyd, 2020)
Define structural violence and give examples.
Indirect harm built into systems: exclusion, poverty, inequality, racism.
Examples:
Global vaccine inequality (COVID-19)
Systemic racism in US housing
Economic apartheid in South Africa
What is cultural violence?
Symbolic and legitimizing force (norms, ideologies, religion, language) that makes direct/structural violence seem “normal.”
Examples:
Caste discrimination in India
Gender norms justifying abuse
Colonial narratives
What is the violence triangle by Galtung?
Interconnection of violence types:
Cultural norms justify structural violence
Structural violence leads to direct violence
Direct violence reinforces both
It reveals the invisible roots of conflict.
What does non-violence mean in peace studies?
It’s not just the absence of physical violence, but the strategic, courageous use of peaceful methods.
Examples:
Gandhian Satyagraha
MLK’s civil disobedience
Extinction Rebellion (UK)
What is negative peace, and why is it critiqued by Galtung?
Negative peace, as defined by Johan Galtung, is the absence of direct violence or war. It aligns with traditional realist international relations views that prioritize state-centric, conflict-avoidant stability. However, Galtung critiques this as insufficient for true peace since it fails to address the root structural causes of violence such as poverty, oppression, and inequality.
Define positive peace and explain its importance in global systems.
Positive peace goes beyond the absence of violence; it demands the presence of justice, equality, and human development. This includes access to education, healthcare, political participation, and economic fairness. Galtung sees positive peace as the ‘integration of human society,’ requiring the dismantling of structural and cultural violence.
What are the core principles of the feminist vision of peace?
Feminist peace challenges patriarchal structures and emphasizes nonviolence, inclusivity, and equitable power relations. It frames peace not merely as the absence of war, but as the active dismantling of gender-based domination and exclusion.
How do Groff and Smoker categorize different visions of peace?
Groff and Smoker propose seven peace paradigms, commonly grouped into three:
Negative peace: mere absence of war.
Positive peace: founded on justice and equality.
Holistic/Feminist peace: spiritual and ecological harmony.
What are the main types of conflict categorized by actors?
Conflicts can be classified by the actors involved:
Interstate: Between sovereign states.
Intrastate: Within a single state, often civil wars.
Non-state vs. state: Terror groups challenge state authority.
Non-state vs. non-state: Ethnic militias, gangs, or warlords fight each other.
What are the major causes of conflict according to type?
Conflicts may arise from:
Ideological clashes: Democracy vs. authoritarianism.
Ethnic or identity-based disputes.
Religious tensions.
Resource-related rivalries.
Political power struggles.
How are conflicts classified based on manifestation?
By how they appear in society:
Latent conflicts: Structural tension exists, but no open violence.
Overt conflicts: Clear confrontations such as protests, revolutions, and warfare.
What defines an asymmetric conflict and why is it significant?
Asymmetric conflict involves power imbalances—often between a powerful state and a weaker insurgent group. These wars challenge traditional Just War Theory, especially on concepts like ‘proportionality’ and the ethical distinction between combatants and civilians.
What global patterns and trends are shaping modern conflicts?
Intrastate wars dominate: Over 80% of today’s conflicts are civil or hybrid.
Protracted conflicts: Involve multiple actors and persist over time.
Civilian-targeted violence: 80–90% of casualties are civilians.
How are current conflict characteristics different from the past?
Modern conflicts see fewer interstate wars and are more ideologically fragmented. Urban warfare is rising, with deliberate destruction of civilian infrastructure, leading to high humanitarian costs and long-term displacement.
What are identity-based conflicts and why are they hard to resolve?
Identity conflicts stem from ethnicity, religion, race, language, and cultural belonging. They arise when groups feel threatened, marginalized, or denied recognition. These conflicts are emotionally charged and historically rooted.
What are key case studies of identity-based conflict?
Myanmar (Rohingya Genocide, 2017–Present): Muslim Rohingya targeted by Buddhist-majority state.
Ethiopia (Tigray War, 2020–2022): Ethno-federal tensions escalated into war between Tigrayans and the federal government.
What defines ideological conflict and why is it hard to mediate?
Ideological conflicts involve deep-rooted political, religious, or economic beliefs. They often become zero-sum struggles where compromise is viewed as a betrayal of core values.
Give examples of recent ideological conflicts.
Syria (2011–Present): Evolved from democratic uprising into ideological war.
Afghanistan (Taliban Resurgence, 2021): Clash between Islamic theocracy and liberal democratic models.
How do material interests (greed) and grievance interact in conflict?
Greed: Pursuit of wealth, often through control of natural resources.
Grievance: Real or perceived injustices like poverty or repression.
How does environmental degradation cause or exacerbate conflict?
Environmental stress like water scarcity, desertification, and food shortages intensifies livelihood insecurity. It acts as a threat multiplier — not the sole cause but a catalyst for political, ethnic, and economic tensions.
