Johan Galtung, the father of “peace studies” and “peace research,” passed away last Feb. 17 at the age of 93. A Norwegian, eclectic scholar, before his master’s degree in Sociology in 1957 he graduated the previous year in Mathematics from the University of Oslo. Inspired by Mahatma Gandhi’s Indian nonviolent experience, he later deepened his knowledge of the Italian pacifist world by meeting in Sicily with Danilo Dolci. A lecturer in sociology and research methodology at Columbia University, later founder of the Peace Research Institute in Oslo (PRIO) and the TRANSCEND network, as part of his research, always associated with a strong public engagement, Galtung promoted the constructivist approach to studies of relations between peoples and conflict mediation. Indeed, thanks to his insights, developed over the years with great dedication, Galtung made it possible to reconfigure the very concept of peace, removing it from the simple dimension of the absence of war, or from exclusively spiritualistic visions. A positive peace, based on the full development of human capacities, unleashed through the rejection not only of direct violence, but also of the structural violence that lurks in social relations and cultural production. As ISIG we have had the honor of collaborating with Johan Galtung on several occasions, including seminars and conferences, including the first presentation in Gorizia of the method he devised for conflict management and resolution, in the late 1990s. In 2000 and 2008, Galtung also edited the preface to the respective updated editions of the research paper “Contemporary Armed Conflicts. What Solutions?” by Prof. Fabio Fossati. In a world that continues to be tragically traversed by too many wars and violence, as analyzed by our Conflict Observatory, Johan Galtung’s teachings and concrete experience are still relevant and valuable. That is why we will continue to follow the path he paved, promoting social change for a future of peaceful relations.
Photo by Arnfinn Pettersen taken from Flickr
