Development and structural violence

Abstract

The conditions of positive peace are similar to those of development, where development refers to a state of national being and not a specific aspect of society. A just society is a developed society, and economic norms for a state of full development do not take into account cultural and material differences among nations. Galtung's theories of imperialism and violence motivate development by pointing out the universally undesirable corollaries of underde‐velopment. Paternalistic development promotes imperialistic relationships and as such it is a mechanism of structural violence. Selective development can also be a mechanism for structural violence by depriving arbitrarily certain areas of possible development. Development can also be used as a mechanism of nonviolent action by underdeveloped communities in an effort to break down violent structures. This can be achieved in three ways: by employing the limited opportunities afforded by the system in order to increase them and change the system: through various methods of passive resistance and non‐violent action which aim at creating conditions of positive peace, similar to a state of development; and by formulating alternative development ideologies for the creation of parallel structures of development.