Peacebuilding &conflict transformation A ... - Peaceworkafrica

Hildegard Goss‐Mayr, who beliefs that only the elimination of violence at all levelscan lead to true peace and the presence of social justice, differentiates forms of violenceas follows:▶ interpersonal and structural (see topic 4. Dimensions of violence)▶ physical and psychological▶ obvious (visible) and latent (invisible, potential)Physical violence … is bodily harm in all its varieties. Physical violence is mostlybased on inequality and various invisible aggressive actions or behaviour.Psychological violence … may be the most destructive and dangerous form of violence.From early childhood onwards and through various channels, humansare manipulated to be ‘integrated’ into the world we are living in (by schools,mass media, leaders). The violence in this manipulation is the threat of notbelonging, the imagination of violence in all kinds of forms for failure to submit,the fear of being hurt 8 .Latent violence and the threat of violence are forms of violence. A person can beinfluenced through the positive exercise of power (reward given for obedienceto what the oppressor dictates) or through the negative exercise of power(punishment given for being disobedient). Another word for the word ‘latent’is ‘potential’ — in this context it means that violent actions may easily comeout. This happens, for instance, in abusive relationships, when there are periodsduring which the perpetrator does not use force against the victim. Theseperiods are instrumental to building up the tension and finally lead to moreviolence. It is the strategy of ‘carrot and stick’ or ‘reward and punishment’ toforce the victim to comply with whatever is the command of the perpetrator’sdemand. Many victims feel that the threats of violence are as degrading, intimidatingand hurtful as the actual blow. This kind of victim‐perpetrator‐relationshipexists on all levels of societies — it is not limited to personal relationships9 .War can be described as a state of prolonged violence, involving two or more groupsof people and often under the auspices of government. War is generally foughtas a means to ‘resolve’ conflicts over territory, resources, power or in selfdefence10 .3 . C a t e g o r i e s o f v i o l e n c e 147