Peacebuilding &conflict transformation A ... - Peaceworkafrica

2. Thoughts and statements about violenceViolence understood as a process (not a static entity or a fixed structure) means thatthere is a constant modification and adaptation to the changing requirements of asociety 3 . This also means that violence involves different practices, at different butcoexisting and interdependent levels. It is beyond the scope of this book to lookextensively into the very deep-rooted psychological complexities behind violence.What is offered is a variety of thoughts on what violence is, how it is practiced andwhat sustains it.Beyond physical violence, there is no consensus on what violence involves orwhen, if at all, it is justified. Therefore the following statements do not present definitions,but offer some thoughts about violence:▶ Violent behaviour is defined as intentional physically aggressive behaviouragainst another person.▶ Violence is the expression of physical or verbal force against one or morepeople, compelling action against one’s will on pain of being hurt. The wordviolence covers a broad spectrum. It can vary from a physical clash/fightbetween two people to war and genocide where millions may die as a result.▶ Violence is, without exception, a destructive power. Violence is a kind ofpower that belittles, harms, destroys oneself or others. It is the failure to accept(appreciate) one’s own and other’s dignity. It is greed for other people’s naturalendowment (characteristics, knowledge, wealth, values etc.), it is the desire toexploit and overpower the other.▶ Violence is “the intentional use of physical force or power, threatened oractual, against oneself, another person or against a group or community thateither results in or has a high likelihood of resulting in injury, death, psychologicalharm, mal‐development or deprivation 4 .”▶ Violence is an injury inflicted by deliberate means, which includes assault,as well as legal intervention, and self‐harm.▶ The understanding of violence is linked to a perceived aggressor‐victimrelationship: people may not recognize defensive use of force as violent, evenin cases where the amount of force used is significantly greater than in theoriginal aggression.2 . T h o u g h t s a n d s t a t e m e n t s a b o u t v i o l e n c e 143