Peacebuilding Cheat Sheet

The core ideas of Peacebuilding distilled into a single, scannable reference — perfect for review or quick lookup.

PiqCue — piqcue.com/peacebuilding/cheatsheet

Quick Reference

Positive Peace vs. Negative Peace

Negative peace refers to the mere absence of direct violence or war, while positive peace involves the presence of social justice, equitable institutions, and conditions that address the structural roots of conflict. Coined by Johan Galtung, this distinction is foundational to peacebuilding theory.

Transitional Justice

A set of judicial and non-judicial mechanisms implemented by societies transitioning from periods of conflict or authoritarian rule to address legacies of large-scale human rights abuses. It seeks to provide accountability, recognition for victims, and institutional reform.

Conflict Transformation

An approach that goes beyond resolving the immediate issues in a conflict to address the underlying relationships, structures, and cultural patterns that generate violence. It seeks to transform the entire conflict system rather than simply ending hostilities.

Disarmament, Demobilization, and Reintegration (DDR)

A process through which former combatants surrender their weapons (disarmament), leave military structures (demobilization), and are supported in returning to civilian life through economic and social programs (reintegration).

Security Sector Reform (SSR)

The process of transforming a country's security institutions, including the military, police, intelligence services, and justice system, to operate effectively and accountably within a democratic framework and under civilian oversight.

Local Ownership

The principle that peacebuilding processes should be designed, led, and sustained by the people and institutions of the affected society rather than being externally imposed by international actors. It emphasizes agency, cultural relevance, and sustainability.

Structural Violence

A concept introduced by Johan Galtung describing harm caused by social structures and institutions that prevent people from meeting their basic needs. Unlike direct violence, structural violence is embedded in political, economic, and social systems.

Reconciliation

The process of rebuilding relationships between former adversaries through acknowledgment of past wrongs, empathy, truth-telling, and the restoration of trust. It operates at both interpersonal and societal levels and is essential for long-term peace.

Multi-Track Diplomacy

A framework recognizing that peacebuilding requires engagement at multiple levels simultaneously, including official government diplomacy (Track 1), unofficial dialogue among influential leaders (Track 2), and people-to-people exchanges and grassroots efforts (Track 3 and beyond).

Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) Agenda

A framework established by UN Security Council Resolution 1325 (2000) recognizing the disproportionate impact of armed conflict on women and the critical importance of women's equal participation and full involvement in all efforts to maintain and promote peace and security.

Key Terms at a Glance

Peacebuilding:A comprehensive process of preventing, reducing, and transforming conflict through activities that address root causes of violence, build institutional capacity, and create the structural conditions for sustainable peace.

Positive Peace:The presence of attitudes, institutions, and structures that create and sustain peaceful societies, including social justice, equitable development, and inclusive governance.

Negative Peace:The absence of direct violence or armed conflict, without necessarily addressing the deeper structural or cultural causes of conflict.

Structural Violence:Harm embedded in social, political, and economic systems that prevents people from meeting their basic needs, resulting in preventable suffering.

Cultural Violence:Aspects of a society's culture, such as ideology, religion, or language, that are used to legitimize and justify direct or structural violence.

Transitional Justice:A set of judicial and non-judicial measures implemented during the transition from conflict or authoritarian rule to address human rights abuses and provide accountability.

Conflict Transformation:An approach seeking to change the underlying systems, relationships, and cultural patterns that produce violent conflict, rather than merely resolving specific disputes.

DDR:Disarmament, Demobilization, and Reintegration: a process by which former combatants give up weapons, leave armed groups, and are supported in transitioning to civilian life.

Security Sector Reform:The process of transforming security institutions to function effectively, transparently, and under democratic civilian oversight in a post-conflict or transitioning state.

Truth Commission:An officially sanctioned body established to investigate and document a pattern of past human rights violations, providing an authoritative record and platform for victim testimony.

Reconciliation:The process of rebuilding fractured relationships between former adversaries through truth-telling, acknowledgment of harm, empathy, and the gradual restoration of trust.

Restorative Justice:A justice approach focused on healing harm through dialogue and cooperation between victims, offenders, and communities, rather than solely punishing wrongdoers.

Local Ownership:The principle that peacebuilding processes should be led by the affected population and their institutions to ensure cultural relevance, legitimacy, and sustainability.

Spoilers:Individuals or groups that seek to undermine a peace process through violence, obstruction, or other means, often because the process threatens their interests.

Multi-Track Diplomacy:A framework for peace engagement involving multiple levels: official government negotiations (Track 1), unofficial dialogues (Track 2), and grassroots people-to-people initiatives (Track 3 and beyond).

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