Jain Journal 1995 07

Author(s): Jain Bhawan Publication
Publisher: Jain Bhawan Publication

Page 25

MEANING AND TYPOLOGY OF VIOLENCE
DR SURENDRA VERMA
Johan Galtung, a celebrated peace researcher, in his article "Violence, Peace and Peace Research" has stated that peace is absence of violence. This is, of course, not a definition of peace since it is a clear case of what he calls obscurum per obscurius. What is intended is only that the terms 'peace' and 'violence' be linked together in such a manner that peace can be regarded as absence of violence.1
Peace, of course, is a broad concept and has many dimensions, but when we think of peace-action, or, peace-movement, or, peaceresearch, the concept of peace must be specific enough to serve as a basis for concrete action. Hence 'peace' is to be specified. Regarding peace as absence of violence is really making peace a little more 'tangible'. Peace-action now will be an action against violence; peace-research will be a research which is conducive in narrowing down the circle of violence in a particular region; and peace-movement will be a movement in the direction of minimizing violence in society in general.
Every thing now hinges on making a definition of violence. Johan Galtung defines violence as "the cause of the difference between the potential and the actual, between what could have been and what is."2 According to him, violence, thus, is present when human beings are being influenced so that their actual somatic and mental realizations are below their potential realizations. Suppose a person, belonging to a particular caste, is deprived of higher education, irrespective of his high ability, by virtue of being a member of a particular caste-this, then, will be a case of violence of the caste-system which is the cause of the difference between the potential and the actual of the individual concerned.
The above definition of violence can serve as a good working hypothesis of peace-action/research/movement. In order to make things clearer Galtung has also given various types of violence. The typology of violence indicates very many dimensions of violence. Thus, the distinctions between physical and psychological violence, negative and
1. Johan Galtung, "Violence, Peace and Peace Research", a paper published in Contemporary Peace Research ed. by Ghanshyam Pardesi, Radiant Publishers, New Delhi, 1982, p. 94.
2. Ibid., p. 96.