Peacebuilding and Conflict Transformation Terminology

An individual who is not a combatant. A government civilian works directly for the state. A nongovernmental civilian does not work for the state.

A policy designed to accomplish a full range of defensive objectives, including deterrence as well as preparations to defend against internal and external acts of aggression. The term is quite literal, indicating planned defense by citizens (as opposed to military personnel).

Civilian-based defense has also been variously referred to as ‘civil resistance’, ‘non-military defense’, ‘non-violent defense’, and ‘social defense’.

Threat of the use of force to gain submission and obedience.

Participation in the objectives established by another with which one identifies and is willing to support.

A situation where national structures or institutions that are meant to implement their responsibilities have disappeared, dissolved, or lost their ability to act.

In armed conflicts, a member of the armed forces of a party to the conflict except medical and religious personnel.

An outcome to a conflict in which the parties involved concede in order to obtain only a portion of their objectives. Such results often occur when the contending parties lack the strength or ability to achieve a complete victory, seek to avoid escalation because of mutual interdependence or value a future relationship with one another.

The voluntary granting of a right, privilege, or advantage by one side to another during negotiations. Concessions indicate a willingness to continue talks and thus serve as a practical step towards facilitating a negotiation process.

The voluntary referral of a conflict to a neutral external party (in the form of an unofficial commission) that either suggests a non-binding settlement or conducts explorations to facilitate more structured techniques of conflict resolution.

The impartiality of the third party is central to the conciliation process including that party’s non-intervention in the conflict.

From the Latin word ‘to clash or engage in a fight.’

A relationship between two or more parties who have, or who think they have, incompatible goals.

An inevitable aspect of human interaction, conflict is present when two or more individuals or groups/parties know their interests are incompatible, express hostile attitudes, emotions and take adversarial actions that can cause the conflict to escalate as parties act to “win”. Conflicts can be waged violently, as in a war, or non-­­‐violently, as in an election, dialogue, or through other mechanisms. Conflict is not necessarily negative and can be a stimulus for positive change. It is critical to ensure conflict does not turn violent.