Perspective 2Constructive interaction with conflict

• Conflict, a natural condition.

  • Related to the world we live in.
  • Has everything to do with diversity.
  • Diversity essential requirement for growth/life.

• Learning for peace means: Learning to interact constructively with conflict.

  (The politics of power provides generally poor examples of our capacity to do so in an international context.)
  

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The logic of behaving peacefully is relatively simple. It doesn’t require a lot of explanation. Teaching and preaching are therefore less adequate means to promote learning in this area.

Much more difficult than the cognitive dimensions of learning for peace are the attitudinal aspects, the value systems we become part of, our outlook on the world and on ourselves as part of it. In other words, the major challenge is in the realm of ethics.

The collapse of pieces of the learning environment that were historically essential for value clarification and ethical development (the family, the religious community, etc.) is a concern. So is the fragmentation of the learning environment.