平和・紛争理論の批判的展開-行動科学的紛争研究の方法論を中心に-

「平和研究」-その方法と課題-

抄録

The critical approach of peace and conflict theory (Kritische Friedens-und Konfliktforschung) purports to criticize the society as a whole by analyzing its structure. In contrast, the behavioral approach endeavors to discover the empirical regularities. These two approaches are being integrated into the so-called “constructive” approach, which will be the main trend in the field. Endorsing the constructive approach, this paper examines both the critical and the behavioral approaches in a comparative perspective in order to locate the central theme in the peace and confilict researches.
Peace and conflict theory has summed up the various methods of the behavioral science, and it has formulated a criticism to the effect that they might be easily expanded and applied from one level to the other. Peace and conflict researchers have pointed out the “gaps of theory” in the behavioral study of conflicts and the disregard of symmetry/asymmetry problems. Thus, Prof. D. Senghaas of West Germany has contrived a typology of conflict formations in the contemporary world, which should shed some light upon the conflict-ridden structure. Prof. J. Galtung of Norway has emphasized on his part the importance of an asymmetrical structure of Topdog-Underdog (T-U) conflicts.
Equipped with the Galtung-Senghaas typology, here, we examine the conflicts in the post-war world. One of our major findings is that the T-U conflicts (inter-bloc conflicts in Galtung's wording) have shown the pattern of unequal exchanges and exploitation with the “nuclear threat” of the topdog behind. This can be explained as a structural expression of “Divide and Rule” in the contemporary world setting, and it should be called the peculiar aspect of structural violence.
Structural violence should be, however, grasped in the context of world peacelessness and maldevelopment. In this sense, the peace and conflict theory puts more emphasis upon the value of peace than the traditional-behavioralists: Peace should be equated with the dignity as well as the survival of human beings. This leads us to a structural reformation of the contemporary international system, and the urgent necessity for the peace and conflict theory shall be an identification of how to deal with the problem of war, the keenest manifestation of conflicts.
Therefore, peace researches henceforth are bound to criticize the advanced countries more radically and to focus more attention on the Third World, along with a more explicit development of the conflict formation theory and the conflict resolution methods.
The constructive approach in peace and conflict theory ought to maintain firmly the following standpoints in its contribution to the peace research: that War is an organized crime, and that the Third World has been the object of oppression.