Introduction: Post-conflict Peacebuilding–Ambiguity and Identity

Abstract

Abstract Although the term ‘peacebuilding’ appeared as early as the 16th century, the theme of peacebuilding did not become a subject of study in its own right until the 1960s and 1970s within the framework of peace research. Its conceptual origins lie in the distinction between ‘positive peace’ and ‘negative peace’ developed by the Norwegian sociologist and researcher Johan Galtung. Whereas negative peace is defined as the ‘absence of direct and organised violence between human groups or nations’, the notion of positive peace is part of a longer term conception according to which establishing a sustainable peace is made possible through cooperation between these groups or nations and the eradication of the root causes of the conflict (Galtung, 1975: 29). To this end, Galtung’s ‘triangle of violence’ identifies three types of violence: direct violence, cultural violence, and structural violence.