Culture of War to Culture of Peace

Culture of War to Culture of Peace 

The United Nations resolutions on a culture of 
peace are based on an analysis of the values, 
attitudes and behaviors that are necessary for 
a culture of war and violence. What are they? 

Audiences throughout the world have responded to 
the question by making their own lists of 
the characteristics of the culture of war.The lists 
differ in the terms used and in the order they are presented, but they have a remarkable consistency. Apparently, the culture of war and violence is present and recognized throughout the world.In the following table these results are presented in terms of eight characteristics, each expressed in several ways: 

Power based on force / Belief that violence works / Military training Enemy images/ Intolerance and prejudice against people who are different / Extreme patriotism / Religious intolerance (suspicion and fear) 

Authoritarian governance / Corruption / Obedience to orders from the top down (subservience and fear) 

Propaganda / Secrecy / Government control of media / Militaristic language / Censorship 

Armaments / Armies / War preparations / Military industry Disregard for human rights (people living in fear) Profiting from the exploitation of people and 
nature within and/or between countries (greed) 
Male domination and power / Patriarchy 

In drafting the UN Programme of Action on a Culture 
of Peace the eight characteristics of a culture of war were taken into consideration and alternatives 
proposed to each one.To quote the document, 
it provides a "conceptual framework" to address 
"the deep cultural roots of war and violence" 
and "the basis for a coherent strategy for 
a transformation to a culture of peace and non-violence."To give one example, the document states "There has never been a war without an 'enemy', and
to abolish war, we must transcend and supersede 
enemy images with understanding,tolerance and solidarity among all peoples and cultures." 

Audiences around the world come up with the same alternatives, shown here in the form of a table with
the culture of war values,attitudes and behaviors 
on the left and, on the right,those of a culture of 
peace corresponding to the eight programme areas 
in the UN resolution 

CULTURE OF WAR AND VIOLENCE 
CULTURE OF PEACE AND NON-VIOLENCE 

Belief in power that is based on force 
Education for a culture of peace 

Having an enemy 
Tolerance, solidarity and international understanding 

Authoritarian governance 
Democratic participation 

Secrecy and propaganda 
Free flow of information 

Armament 
Disarmament 

Exploitation of people 
Human rights 

Exploitation of nature 
Sustainable development 

Male domination 
Equality of women and men 

It was a bit different than the UN resolutions which 
were designed for nation-states.For example,education for peace was not included as such in the Manifesto 
and disarmament was translated to reject violence.
Both democracy and women's equality were included, 
in addition to community development, under "rediscover solidarity."Both the free flow of information and tolerance, solidarity and international understanding were included in listen to understand.
And "preserve the planet" was considered so important that it was separated out from "share with others" 
as daily life equivalents of sustainable development. When the eight peacekeys were formulated at 
a later time,democracy and women's equality 
were recognized as separate keys. 
Also, the share with others peacekey took on an education for peace content. 

Education for a Culture of Peace 
(implied in all other points) 
Developing attitudes and skills for living together (content of share with others) 
  
Tolerance, solidarity and international understanding 
Rediscover solidarity and Listen to understand 
Rediscover solidarity 
  
Democratic participation 
(included in Rediscover solidarity) 
Participate in democracy 
  
Free flow of information 
Listen to understand 
Listen to understand 
  
Disarmament 
Reject violence 
Reject violence 
  
Human rights 
Respect all life 
Respect all life 
  
Sustainable development 
Share with others 
Share with others (title only) 
  
Sustainable development 
Preserve the planet 
Preserve the planet 
  
Equality of women 
(included in Rediscover solidarity) 
Work for women's equality 
  

Here, you have a strategy for the transition from 
a culture of war and violence to a culture of peace 
and non-violence:starving the culture of war of 
the nutrients it needs and without which it cannot continue. In so far as a culture of peace grows, 
the culture of war can no longer survive. Without 
an enemy there can be no war.Without authoritarian governance, propaganda and secrecy,and the belief 
that power comes from force, the people will no 
longer accept to go to war.Without armaments it becomes more difficult to carry out wars. 

At the same time, peaceful alternatives are provided 
for the necessary functions now performed by 
the culture of war and violence,including governance, solidarity and economic and social development. 
The very concept of power is redefined as listening, dialogue,negotiation and cooperation instead of force.