Peace through conflict management: De-escalation of conflicts from a peace theory perspective

This contribution is based on the unequivocal normative content of peace studies in public discourse and at the same time illustrates the context dependency of references to peace. The currently observable "war effects" on peace motivate to take an alternative theoretical approach: Contrary to the traditional contrast between peace and violence in peace and conflict research, this approach focusses on the relationships between peace and conflict, referring to an understanding of social conflicts that distinguishes the handling of conflicts from their causes, their conflict objects and the relationship constellations between the conflicting parties. In this way, a concept of "conflict management" can be developed, within which a normative distinction can be made between escalation and de-escalation of conflicts. From this perspective, wars are the result of a lack of de-escalative conflict management, while peace becomes achievable when intentional conflict management becomes aware of its de-escalative possibilities for action. Peace can thus be understood as a mode of constructive conflict management.