Peace Education Cheat Sheet

The core ideas of Peace Education distilled into a single, scannable reference — perfect for review or quick lookup.

PiqCue — piqcue.com/peace-education/cheatsheet

Quick Reference

Positive Peace

A concept developed by Johan Galtung describing not merely the absence of direct violence (negative peace) but the presence of social justice, equity, and institutions that address the root causes of conflict. Positive peace requires the active construction of fair social structures.

Structural Violence

Harm embedded in social, political, and economic systems that prevents people from meeting their basic needs. Unlike direct violence, structural violence operates through institutions and policies rather than individual acts of aggression.

Conflict Resolution

A set of processes and skills aimed at finding peaceful solutions to disagreements between parties. It includes negotiation, mediation, arbitration, and collaborative problem-solving techniques that seek mutually acceptable outcomes.

Nonviolence

A philosophy and strategy of social change that rejects the use of physical violence to achieve political or social goals. Drawing from the traditions of Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr., nonviolence involves active resistance through civil disobedience, dialogue, and moral persuasion.

Critical Pedagogy

An educational philosophy, advanced by Paulo Freire, that views education as a practice of freedom. It encourages learners to question power structures, analyze systems of oppression, and take informed action to transform unjust social conditions.

Human Rights Education

Teaching and learning about the principles, norms, and standards of human rights as defined in international instruments such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. It aims to build a culture of respect for the dignity and rights of every person.

Restorative Justice

An approach to justice that focuses on repairing harm through cooperative processes that include all stakeholders, rather than on punishing offenders. In educational settings, restorative justice replaces punitive discipline with dialogue circles and accountability.

Intercultural Competence

The ability to communicate effectively and appropriately with people from different cultural backgrounds. It includes cultural awareness, empathy, flexibility, and the capacity to navigate cultural differences without resorting to prejudice or stereotyping.

Culture of Peace

A set of values, attitudes, and behaviors defined by the United Nations that reject violence and seek to prevent conflict by addressing root causes. It encompasses respect for human rights, democratic participation, tolerance, solidarity, and sustainable development.

Social-Emotional Learning (SEL)

The process through which individuals develop essential skills for managing emotions, building positive relationships, showing empathy, and making responsible decisions. In peace education, SEL serves as the foundation for developing the interpersonal capacities needed for peaceful coexistence.

Key Terms at a Glance

Ahimsa:A principle of nonviolence originating in Indian philosophy, meaning non-harm to all living beings in thought, word, and deed. Central to Gandhian nonviolent resistance.

Conflict Resolution:Methods and processes for facilitating the peaceful ending of disagreements, including negotiation, mediation, and arbitration.

Conflict Transformation:An approach that goes beyond resolving immediate disputes to address the underlying systems, relationships, and structures that give rise to conflict.

Conscientization:The process of developing critical awareness of one's social reality through reflection and action, as articulated by Paulo Freire.

Critical Pedagogy:An educational philosophy that views teaching as a political act and encourages learners to question and challenge systems of power and oppression.

Cultural Violence:Aspects of a culture (such as ideology, language, religion, or art) that are used to legitimize direct or structural violence.

Culture of Peace:A set of values, attitudes, traditions, and behaviors defined by the United Nations that promote nonviolence, human rights, tolerance, and democratic participation.

Direct Violence:Visible, physical acts of violence committed by identifiable individuals or groups against others, such as war, assault, or terrorism.

Disarmament Education:Education focused on understanding the effects of weapons and militarism, and promoting efforts toward arms control and disarmament.

Empathy:The ability to understand and share the feelings of another person. In peace education, it is considered an essential skill for nonviolent communication and cross-cultural understanding.

Human Rights Education:Education about the principles, mechanisms, and standards of human rights as articulated in international instruments such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Intercultural Education:Education that promotes understanding and respect among people of different cultural backgrounds, fostering the skills needed for peaceful coexistence in diverse societies.

Mediation:A conflict resolution process in which a neutral third party helps disputing parties reach a mutually acceptable agreement.

Negative Peace:The absence of direct, physical violence. Considered incomplete without the presence of social justice and equity (positive peace).

Nonviolence:A philosophy and set of practices that reject the use of physical force to achieve social or political change, relying instead on civil disobedience, dialogue, and moral persuasion.

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