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Conflict Brief 3: Proactive Peace Making
Liberty University
Olivia Steele
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When entering the discussion on peace-keeping and conflict resolution, it is important to
realize that there are many theories available and many ideas on how conflict should be resolved.
In asserting the following theory, it should not be assumed that it is being asserted as the best
theory. Rather, it is simply one among many that can be used to find peace and restore
relationships. It should also be stated that the main goal of this theory is not simply conflict
resolution, but relational reconciliation. As Pastor Rick Warren of Saddleback Church (2014)
explains, it is possible to disagree without being disagreeable and to have unity without
uniformity. People, and even countries, can walk hand in hand without seeing eye to eye.
(Saddleback Church, 2014).
With that goal in mind, the theory of proactive peace making can be correctly understood
and applied. In this theory, leaders take a proactive approach to work as a team in order to arrive
at reconciliation and make peace. What is meant by this definition? Firstly, leaders must be
proactive. They should realize that peace does not happen by chance. In the same way that a body
builder does not one day wake up surprised at the muscles on his body, the leader does not one
day wake up to a people at peace. It is no accident, but rather, it takes hard work and
intentionality in the big areas as well as the small. Luke 16:10 says that a person who is faithful
in little will also be faithful in the big things. Likewise, someone who is dishonest in little will be
dishonest in big things. Leaders must strive for peace in all areas, not just the “important” ones.
Secondly, it is important to work as a team. The road to peace is not a race. In situations
of conflict resolution, one should seek to fix the problem, not the blame. The issue should be
what is attacked, not each other (Saddleback Church, 2014). 1 Corinthians 12:12-27 says that the
Church is a body, with each part being just as important as the other. If one part of the body fails
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or is in pain, the rest of the body is affected, feeling what happened to that one part. In the same
way, each and every person is a necessary part of the system, and they all serve their function.
One who damages and harms their body is considered unsound and in need of help.
Finally, the two goals of this theory are reconciliation and peace making. As stated before,
while all conflict will never be completely resolved, reconciliation is possible and achievable.
Further, one should seek to create the first move, making peace in whatever context. Psalm 34:14
states that people are to seek peace. Once they find that peace, they are to pursue it
wholeheartedly, turning away from what is bad to do good.
The rationale behind the theory of proactive peace making comes from the study of
conflict, and the notice of the differentiation between conflict with individuals and conflict with
countries. When putting forth a theory on conflict resolution or reconciliation, there are different
materials for each group one is addressing. Marital books address conflict between couples, while
parenting books address the different conflict between mothers, fathers, and their children. Many
works have been written on how to resolve conflict in times of and concluding war. Then there
are conferences and references specifically addressing conflict between leaders and nations.
While there is good justification behind most of the material, and while they are seeking to
contextualize the situations, there can be too much differentiation applied. At the core of conflict,
no matter the age, stage, or place, there are common factor, which are the following: the emotions
of fear, doubt, and hurt; self-centeredness; and pride. Pride includes judgments about the
consistency of one’s behavior with a valued identity, and the more the actions align to such
identity, the more pride the person experiences (Halperin, 2015). Therefore, it could be
concluded that in situations of conflict, one is blinded to their faults and shortcomings. Instead,
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they perceive that everything they do is morally justified while the other person has no rationale
for their actions.
All of the above emotions, fear, doubt, and hurt, are going to affect a conflict. When
feeling these emotions in conflict, they are so prevalent, people are physically affected. How they
think and how they behave will also be impacted (Hocker & Wilmot, 2018). Knowing that, the
leader should not seek to avoid emotions in conflict, becoming a heartless robot. Rather, he or she
should seek to use those emotions in a productive manner. For example, anger, an emotional
derivative of fear, is often negatively connotated. This is not always the case in conflict. Anger can
motivate one to attack the conflict instead of disengaging. When directed at the problem, and not
at the person, anger can be utilized (Lindner, 2006).
In summary, leaders need to humanize those that they are fighting against, seeing them,
not as the enemy, but as a fellow teammate against the problem. It is a two-way street that will
often be fraught with high emotions, pride, and confusion. However, making peace, proactively
seeking to create reconciliation will pay divides above and beyond what was invested.
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References
Halperin, E. (2015). The Catch-22 of Intractable Conflicts: The Role of Pride and Humiliation in
Conflicts and Peace Processes. In Emotions in Conflict (pp. 139–154). New York, NY:
Routledge. Retrieved from https://www.taylorfrancis.com/
Hocker, J. L., & Wilmot, W. W. (2018). Interpersonal conflict (Tenth edition). New York, NY:
McGraw-Hill Education.
Lindner, E. G. (2006). Emotion and Conflict: Why it is important to understand how emotions
affect conflict and how conflict effects emotions. In M. Deutsch, P. T. Coleman, & E. C.
Marcus (Eds.), The Handbook of Conflict Resolution: Theory and Practice. (2nd ed., pp.
268–293). San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.
Saddleback Church. (2014). Learn How To Resolve Conflict & Restore Relationships with Rick
Warren [Video File]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=l1udN6OShf4&feature=youtu.be
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