Understanding the Syrian Civil War through Galtung’s Conflict Theory

Abstract

Johan Galtung's conflict theory provides a framework for understanding the Syrian Civil War. Galtung defines conflict as a triadic construct consisting of attitudes, behaviour, and contradictions. Attitudes and contradictions reflect the latent, subconscious level of conflict, while behaviour is manifest and reflects conscious actions when confronted with contradictions and hostile attitudes. Conflicts can start from any point of the triangle and are categorised as direct or structural. Direct conflicts have manifest attitudes and contradictions, while structural conflicts have latent attitudes and contradictions. Galtung also defines three types of violence: direct, structural, and cultural. Direct violence is quick and visible, whereas structural violence is slow and invisible, reflecting the injustice and inequality in societal institutions. The Syrian Civil War can be analysed using Galtung's theory, considering the attitudes, behaviour, and contradictions of the parties involved, as well as the direct and structural violence present in the conflict. Understanding these elements is crucial for developing strategies for peaceful resolution and transformation of the conflict.

DOI : https://doi.org/10.70646/PJSP.2024.1104