What is peace?

We explain what social and inner peace is. What are the characteristics of this term and its Nobel Prize.

1. What is peace?

It refers to a state of tranquility and security . It is a state of harmony that is free of wars , conflicts and setbacks. We all want to experience it in our country, our home and our interior.

It can be defined as a state of well-being, tranquility, stability and security that is opposed to war and has a positive connotation . The term has its origins in the Latin word pax.

It is universally desirable and we know that in order to maintain it it is necessary to be tolerant and open to dialogue, regardless of our cultural values . It is something that all societies value.

2. Interior peace

Tranquility and the absence of negative feelings (such as anger and guilt) are considered a type of it: inner peace. Many cults promote the practices of reflection and meditation to reach that state.

In today’s world where stress prevails and everything seems to move at an accelerated pace, inner peace is a state that everyone should aspire to .

3. Characteristics of peace

It implies a ceasefire, a cessation of hostilities, an agreement that allows everyone to carry out their activities without interference . Groups of nations such as the UN strive for peace or intervene in armed conflicts with the intention of mediating and reaching an agreement.

The conflicts of interest can be resolved peacefully if neither party has started military actions. Armed conflicts between countries are extremely harmful to citizens , in those cases the leaders will negotiate and try to build treaties.

4. Social peace

It was defined by Alfons Banda as “the human aspiration to live one’s life and that of the communities of belonging in an atmosphere of reasonable tranquility and well-being, which allow the free development of the capacities of people of all kinds (… ) ».

We do not depart from the idea of ​​original peace, but the role of a rule of law that is the one who should allow and defend that peace comes into play . If Human Rights are violated , the State is responsible in some way , since in an implicit contract the use of force and political power is allowed, provided that it respects the human condition.

A State can guarantee social peace in many ways, one of which implies economic regulations that, through educational, health or other measures, have the ultimate goal of preventing internal or external conflicts.

This achieved from this political action can be positive or negative:

• Positive social peace : It implies respect forhuman dignity and the welfare of society. This is based on the social consensus that establishes agreements with the State in pursuit of the common good.
• Negative social peace : It is the absence of armed conflicts, which does not ensure any kind of well-being, since there could be other types of conflicts, such as political or international interests. Class conflicts could end with a period of peace and quiet because of their revolutionary characteristics.

At this point we see the relationship between power and social peace in the nineteenth century, the foundation of the existence of the State is to achieve social peace as a supreme objective .

This idea is built on modernity and lays its foundations in the law, which contextualizes it consolidating it in the legal framework of each nation and below the regulations established by international law.

5. Nobel Peace Prize

There is a Nobel Prize for people who have put their efforts and intentions in favor of good relations between nations , the reduction of armies or paramilitary armed forces of any nation and the promotion of peace.

This award began to be awarded in 1901 to organizations and individuals . It emerged from the content of the will of Alfred Nobel in 1895. The prize is awarded in the city of Oslo, the capital of Norway. The winners are chosen there by a committee of five people who are selected by Parliament.