ABSTRACT
One component that is relevant to understanding and addressing the complexity of peace is seeing the interrelations between interpersonal peace—peace with others—and intrapersonal peace—peace within oneself. In exploring the nature of peace, it is useful to distinguish three terms: conflict, violence, and force. Commonly, peace is typically taken to be a “secondary” concept, a derivative of the more primary concept of violence. Just as one speaks of negative peace as the absence of something and positive peace as the presence of something, so too can one speak of positive and negative actions. A common and important approach to understanding peace and violence today is to relate these issues to the notions of rights and justice. As with the issue of rights, it is clear that equality and justice relate to peace and violence, especially with the understanding and realization of positive peace. But also, as with the issue of rights, the notions of equality and justice are complex.
