Everything that we do involves peace. To study is to seek understanding for a greater knowledge
of what is taking place. This knowledge is a step towards peace. Every school and program of study that exists seeks
understanding, which is a component of peace. In essence, every school is a
study of peace. Which is why most peace programs are interdisciplinary.
The formal labelling of peace and conflict studies is noted to have been started by Johan Galtung. However, it is my view that peace is the foundation of very relationship and the main pursuit of knowledge. With that view, peace and conflict is the sole purpose/goal for any educational institution, society and person. Also, it is important to understand that each of us are engaged in the task of peace each day. It has been that way from the beginning of time. That is why peace and conflict education has been part of everyday life from the very beginning of life.
To have a program of peace under any other discipline is
putting the cart before the horse. Peace is not a component of philosophy or
psychology or politics or law. In fact,
all of those are components of peace. Each of those are avenues that we use to
obtain peace. Most of the time, all of them are utilized on a daily basis for
peace to have even the slimmest of success.
Take economics for example. Peace has been understood as
perfect balance, which is zero. To have peace in economics there can be no constant
growth because that is out of balance. This does not mean that there is no
wealth accumulated. It means that there is equal distribution of input and output.
To have more on either side is out of balance. The same scenario plays out with
all other components of peace.
This balance is the calm resolve needed to obtain peace. In
order to have that balance, each of us must study their own personal balance.
