This blog is part of a series on our Fall study topic: Waging Peace. On Sunday mornings and in a special event on October 26, St. Stephen’s is embracing Gods’ vision of a world healed in justice and peace. This course focuses on laying a secular and religious groundwork for real change in our community.
In week two of our Sunday Seminar we are going to continue our introduction to peace by defining the nuanced terms that support efforts to achieve and sustain peace. Conflict resolution, peacekeeping, and peacebuilding are three interrelated concepts that have distinct yet complementary roles. By unraveling these terms, we can gain a clearer perspective on how our efforts can make an impact.
Conflict Resolution
Conflict resolution is an important part of building peace, and perhaps the best known. This is the process by which parties in conflict find an end to violence. Often, this looks like diplomatic negotiations as we see currently regarding the war in Gaza. Famous peace treaties include the Peace of Westphalia, which ended the 30 Years War and the Treaty of Paris that ended the American Revolution.
Conflict resolution can also be brokered between non-national parties or brought about within states. This might look like arbitration or mediation between aggrieved parties or even school children. In Liberia, the Women’s Mass Action for Peace helped end a civil war through public demonstrations supporting intrastate negotiations.
Peacekeeping
This is a controversial and narrow field of peacebuidling with a high international profile. The famous “blue helmets” of the United Nations peacekeeping force are an international symbol of peacekeeping. Famously, peacekeepers failed to intervene to stop the genocide in Rwanda, and the US refuses to allow its armed forces to serve in UN missions. However, many peacekeeping forces, both UN and otherwise currently operate around the globe to prevent war and atrocities.
The United Nations currently has 11 active peacekeeping missions worldwide, and many militaries perform peacekeeping duties on behalf of their sending states. This, of course, is controversial, and may be cover for furthering the objectives of the sending country.
Peacebuilding
Peacebuilding is a more comprehensive, holistic term for actions by state and non-state actors to build relationships and further the causes of peace and justice. This includes the two above terms, but it can also include intercultural exchanges, dialogues between local groups, non-violent protests, and even artwork.
Peacebuilding begins from a foundation of cessation of hostilities and works to ensure just and equitable outcomes that promote long-term stability in communities. It might address the needs of marginalized and vulnerable populations like women and children. It might include education and cultural events. Hunger programs and mediation, domestic violence help, and even therapeutic counseling might be considered peacework.
While conflict resolution and peacekeeping may be best left to experts, peace building can be done by anyone in appropriate contexts. Civil society, including religious communities, do the important work of peacebuilding every day. We bring people together and organize around what’s right while meeting the needs of members of our communities.
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