Positive Peace—A Necessary Touchstone for Public Administration

Abstract

This article explores the concept of positive peace as a valuable “touchstone” for public administration, but one which is not part of the discipline’s lexicon because a negative definition of peace (the absence of violent conflict) is dominant. Here, peace is acknowledged as an essentially contested concept, and the authors argue that such a richer conceptualization of positive peace—one that is rooted in a reciprocal relationship ethic—is more useful for public administration in four dimensions: (1) as a broad goal; (2) as a reminder to look at root causes; (3) as a nudge toward a value pluralist perspective; and (4) as a goal with cross-cultural capacity in an increasingly complex and diverse global context. The potential of this concept is opened by exploring “what is positive peace?” with attention to how a positive conception adds nuance to a seemingly familiar concept and surfaces the contested nature of the term. The authors also explore how the key qualities outlined above can help Public Administration productively hold together acknowledged tensions within the discipline at a conceptual level and how the skills of peacebuilding could help prepare practitioners.