Definition of Peace

Definition of Peace Peace is understood as a condition in which war, enmity, conflict, and violence are absent, and individuals, societies, or nations live in safety, prosperity, and contentment. Accordingly, peace has often been defined as the absence of war. However, this is considered a negative definition. According to peace scholars, peace is not only the absence of war but also the presence of justice, freedom, mutual respect, and cooperation. In other words, peace must be accompanied by justice. History of Peace From ancient tribal life to autocratic monarchies, human history has been dominated by war and violence. The historian Edward Gibbon once remarked: “History is indeed little more than the register of the crimes, follies, and misfortunes of mankind.” Ancient historiography mostly recorded the wars and conquests of rulers, not the good deeds of common people. Yet, the spirit of goodness and human welfare was never absent. Religions such as Hinduism, Buddhism, Zoroastrianism, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam have always taught peace and tolerance to their followers. For example, Buddhism’s doctrine of Ahimsa and the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah in Islam are early historical examples of peace through religion. In modern times, leaders like Mahatma Gandhi, Nelson Mandela, and Martin Luther King Jr. dedicated their lives to peace and brought about great social change through nonviolent struggle. At the collective level, after the devastation of World War II, the world moved toward peace and established the United Nations in 1945, with the aim of promoting global peace. Yet, the UN has not been able to fully succeed in this mission. Norwegian sociologist Johan Galtung (1930–2024), considered the Father of Peace Studies, distinguished between negative peace MAULANA WAHIDUDDIN KHAN — AMBASSADOR OF PEACE By Prof Zaheeruddin Khwaja, Raichur, Karnataka