Conflict Dynamics: Galtung’s Conflict Triangle

Johan Galtung We understand that Violence is any physical, emotional, verbal, institutional, structural or spiritual behaviour, attitude, policy or condition that diminishes, dominates or destroys others and ourselves. Violence is one of the possible responses to specific conflict situations. This does not imply that violence is unavoidable. Violence is not inevitable and it must not be confused with conflict.

Galtung explored causes of violent conflict In societies with conflict, - possible to identify both specific causes and more general conditions that make violent conflict more likely Different sides unlikely to agree on causes ‘Behaviours, attitudes and contradictions act together to encourage violent conflict’ - Galtung

Galtung’s Conflict Triangle Behaviour Violence, genocide, insurgency attacks, discriminatory acts Galtung’s Conflict Triangle Manifest Level: How people act encourages conflict, immediate evidence of conflict Latent Level; How people think encourages conflict; deeper causes of conflict Attitudes/Assumptions: Racism, discriminatory attitudes, sexism, victimhood, trauma Contradictions Inequality, dispute over territory or resources,

Conditions making violent conflict more likely Conditions making violent conflict less likely

Conditions making violent conflict more likely: Conditions making violent conflict less likely: Little or no democratic means of dispute resolution; minorities excluded from political representation Wealth, territory or resources shared unequally and controlled by powerful elites Poverty Government is above the law, making arbitrary and illegitimate decisions Judicial system is absent or interfered with, not independent or fair Human rights are abused Democratic institutions exist, with full political equality and participation Equal sharing of resources and wealth Equality of opportunity for all Government respects the rule of law Disputes can be resolved fairly through a fair and independent judicial system Respect for human rights (especially of minorities)

Applying Galtung’s Conflict Triangle: Syria Conflict Behaviour Violence, genocide, insurgency attacks, discriminatory acts Applying Galtung’s Conflict Triangle: Syria Conflict Manifest Level: How people act encourages conflict, immediate evidence of conflict Latent Level; How people think encourages conflict; deeper causes of conflict Attitudes/Assumptions: Racism, discriminatory attitudes, sexism, victimhood, trauma Contradictions Inequality, dispute over territory or resources, Taken from Murphy and Gleek (2016)

Applying Galtung’s Conflict Triangle: Syria Conflict Behaviour Violence, genocide, insurgency attacks, discriminatory acts Applying Galtung’s Conflict Triangle: Syria Conflict Manifest Level: How people act encourages conflict, immediate evidence of conflict Attitudes/Assumptions: Assad government believes it should stay in power; that rebel forces are ‘terrorists’ challenging legitimate authority of the state. Sunni rebels feel Assad government is not legitimate, demanding greater representation and political equality; Sunnis marginalized by Assad-led Shia government Latent Level; How people think encourages conflict; deeper causes of conflict Contradictions Inequality, dispute over territory or resources, Taken from Murphy and Gleek (2016)

Applying Galtung’s Conflict Triangle: Syria Conflict Behaviour Violence, genocide, insurgency attacks, discriminatory acts Applying Galtung’s Conflict Triangle: Syria Conflict Manifest Level: How people act encourages conflict, immediate evidence of conflict Attitudes/Assumptions: Assad government believes it should stay in power; that rebel forces are ‘terrorists’ challenging legitimate authority of the state. Sunni rebels feel Assad government is not legitimate, demanding greater representation and political equality; Sunnis marginalized by Assad-led Shia government Contradictions Sunni majority is in in conflict with President’s Alawite sect, which has drawn in Sunni and Shia regional powers. Sunnis feel marginalised by Assad Shia led government; Islamic State believes it is right to create Sunni Muslim caliphate across Syria and Iraq – does not accept current international borders Latent Level; How people think encourages conflict; deeper causes of conflict Taken from Murphy and Gleek (2016)

Applying Galtung’s Conflict Triangle: Syria Conflict Behaviour Assad government: military campaign against insurgency, chemical weapon attacks (Aug 2013) Sunni rebel forces: violent insurgency against Assad governemnt Islamic state: military campaign to establish Sunni Islamic caliphate, fought against Shia Muslims and Assad government; execution of western journalists Applying Galtung’s Conflict Triangle: Syria Conflict Manifest Level: How people act encourages conflict, immediate evidence of conflict Attitudes/Assumptions: Assad government believes it should stay in power; that rebel forces are ‘terrorists’ challenging legitimate authority of the state. Sunni rebels feel Assad government is not legitimate, demanding greater representation and political equality; Sunnis marginalized by Assad-led Shia government Contradictions Sunni majority is in in conflict with President’s Alawite sect, which has drawn in Sunni and Shia regional powers. Sunnis feel marginalised by Assad Shia led government; Islamic State believes it is right to create Sunni Muslim caliphate across Syria and Iraq – does not accept current international borders Latent Level; How people think encourages conflict; deeper causes of conflict Taken from Murphy and Gleek (2016)

Applying Galtung’s Conflict Triangle: Behaviour Manifest Level: How people act encourages conflict, immediate evidence of conflict Latent Level; How people think encourages conflict; deeper causes of conflict Attitudes/Assumptions: Contradictions Taken from Murphy and Gleek (2016)