The Concept of Social Peace

Peace ranks highly among noble human values. Numerous sayings in this regard can be found in the works of philosophers, researchers, poets, and authors. All these emphasize peace and establish it as a fundamental and central value in life. Like other concepts, peace requires a specific definition.

(1) Meaning of Peace
There are two general perspectives on the concept of “peace”:

Peace, in its simplest definitions, is the “absence of conflict, violence, war…”. This is a common viewpoint in many writings, with roots in ancient Greek civilization, continuing through Christian human history. Peace advocates adopt this definition, while researchers in international relations see peace as the absence of war; the existence of war does not equate to the presence of peace. In human societies, peace means the absence of anything related to violence, such as organized major crimes like terrorism, ethnic, religious, sectarian, or regional conflicts (i.e., those arising between geographic areas within a single state’s territory). Regional conflicts often stem from economic issues (like the struggle for natural resources, as seen in many African countries), political issues (like the monopolization of certain geographic areas by political power, such as the ongoing conflict in Darfur), or ethnic issues (such as conflicts between different ethnic groups in geographic areas against each other, as recently experienced in the north-south Sudan conflict).

Peace is “agreement, harmony, calm…”. According to this definition, peace – unlike the previous one – does not mean the absence of violence in all its forms but refers to positive qualities desirable in themselves, such as the need to reach agreements, the desire for harmony in human relationships, and the predominance of calmness among different groups. Hence, peace is a positive state in itself (like stability and calm), rather than merely the absence of a rejected negative state (like violence, war, and murder). This definition opens the door to thinking about different levels of engagement with the concept of “peace”: peace among states, peace among human groups, peace within families, and peace between an individual and themselves.

(2) Meaning of Social Peace
Based on the general meaning of peace – defined either by the absence of negative phenomena like violence or the presence of positive phenomena like calm, stability, health, and growth – we can approach the concept of Social Peace.
Every community consists of a diverse group of people, differing necessarily in their religious, sectarian, social, or occupational affiliations, but all are united by what we can call a “social contract”, an unwritten commitment among them regarding the rights and obligations of each party within the community. Abandoning this contract constitutes a violation of one party’s rights and a breach of another’s obligations, necessitating decisive intervention to correct the situation.
From this perspective, the social contract is:

1. An expression of a balanced state among various societal parties in interests, power, capabilities, and wills.
2. This balance is maintained by “power,” which is not necessarily “muscular power” (violence) but fundamentally is the power of law and legitimacy.
3. It aids in resolving disputes or disagreements as a reference point to which different parties return for problem-solving.
   This helps in establishing what we call “expectation”. Each party expects specific behavior from the other based on their obligations and duties. If this behavior is not met, it is considered a violation of the prevailing social contract.
   For example, if there are obligations on the part of the employer toward employees, there are corresponding rights for the employer against employees. Breaching either leads to a violation of the social contract, warranting correction.

There are two types of social contracts: the direct one and the indirect one.

Direct social contract: This is the contract made explicitly by the parties involved, such as determining place, time, and mutual expectations from each side. An example is a contract for building a building. The first party (landowner and project financier) expects the second party (contracting company or individual contractor) to complete the construction with agreed-upon specifications, and handover occurs over predetermined stages. The second party expects a specific financial return based on required obligations. Thus, mutual expectations are clear between both parties.

Indirect social contract: This pertains to values, norms, sentiments, and implicit agreements among various parties, where deviation from these is met with disapproval. An example could be the promise of word between business factions, or trust in the relationship between seller and buyer.
Social peace is achieved when both direct and indirect social contracts operate effectively without issues. However, it becomes tense, disturbed, and deviates from its course if respect for the social contract is not observed in reality.

Societies experience diversity and pluralism, with varying interests, perspectives, and views on the present and future. How can social peace be established among them in light of this?

(3) Pillars of Social Peace
Several pillars of social peace exist within any community, not only tied to history but increasingly connected to political management of societies.

Peaceful Management of Pluralism: Human societies witness religious, sectarian, linguistic, and ethnic pluralism. There are no longer pure communities comprising only adherents of a specific religion, sect, ethnic group, or language. Pluralism has become a fundamental value in diverse societies, humanly, religiously, and culturally. Pluralism in and of itself is merely a social phenomenon; the crucial factor is how this pluralism is managed. There is a peaceful management allowing diverse groups living together to express their diversity in an atmosphere of mutual respect, and there is negative pluralism that considers diversity a “source of weakness” rather than “a source of enrichment”. This results in efforts to marginalize others in favor of larger, more powerful or wealthier groups, leading to ethnic, sectarian, and religious wars, causing casualties and economic devastation, and creating a historical memory transmitted through generations, burdened with feelings of justice, memories of hatred, and revenge.

Adhering to the Law: The “Rule of Law” in modern society is one of the most important factors for achieving equality and justice in relations among individuals and groups. The rule of law entails several key points:

• Individuals are equal before the law regardless of differences in color, gender, religion, or ethnicity.
• Justice institutions, such as the police, prosecution, and courts, apply the law impartially without regard to an individual’s social status, religious affiliation, or political influence.
• Access to justice institutions must be easy and guaranteed for all, without financial burdens exceeding individual means or cultural levels.
• Individuals should be tried before their natural judge without facing any exceptional procedures due to their political, religious, or sectarian affiliations.
• Justice institutions apply the law within a reasonable timeframe, allowing thorough consideration without prolonging litigation to the detriment of citizens’ rights.
• Judgments issued by justice institutions must be enforced firmly without procrastination or delay.
  These fundamental criteria govern the embodiment of the “Rule of Law” in society. Their presence leads to what we may call “social expectation,” meaning individuals expect a legal system that governs their relations based on clear laws, transparency in litigation, and firmness in executing final, enforceable judgments. The absence of some or all these criteria leads to a disregard for the concept of equality among citizens, prompting individuals to resort to their own laws, such as bullying, bribery, and other forms indicative of a shaken belief in the “Rule of Law,” which impacts social peace in the community.

3. Good Governance: Maintaining social peace in any community requires good governance. Many strikes and protests stem from a lack of participation and misappropriation of public funds. Hence, social peace necessitates democracy. Good governance encompasses a set of essential concepts, defined succinctly.

• Accountability involves holding individuals accountable for their actions, which includes assessment and punishment or reward. This requires activating the role of political institutions like the parliament, regulatory agencies, the press, and human rights organizations, enhancing public integrity.
• Transparency refers to openness in discussing topics and the freedom to exchange information within society. Transparency aids in fostering serious accountability when facts are accessible to citizens in the community.
• Empowerment means expanding individuals’ capabilities and assisting them in improving their lives. This includes empowering citizens and transforming them from passive “receivers” to active “participants,” aiding them in developing themselves and enhancing their quality of life.
• Participation encourages individuals to engage in public work and removes obstacles in their way. Participation takes various forms, including political participation (party membership, elections, etc.), social participation (non-profit organizations, volunteer efforts, etc.), and cultural participation (involvement in cultural life, producing cultural works such as books or artistic creations, etc.).
• Fighting Corruption means the misuse of office for personal gain. The scourge of corruption afflicts people daily, manifesting as overpricing goods, denial of needed services, or lack of job opportunities due to nepotism. Corruption has become a tool for navigating daily life through the machinations of rigid bureaucracy, buying loyalty, recruiting allies, building support bases, and servicing narrow interests, which inevitably creates a real gap between the rich and poor in society, raising social tension levels and prompting some groups to resort to violence and crime.

(4) Freedom of Expression: A Fundamental Right in the United States Constitution

Freedom of expression is fundamental to building social peace and maintaining a democratic society. The United States, as a diverse nation with cultural, religious, gender, and political pluralism, ensures that all groups within society have the right to voice their concerns and aspirations. The common interests shared among diverse groups form the basis of societal cohesion. Social peace cannot be sustained unless every community member enjoys equal opportunities to express their views, concerns, and ambitions.

The First Amendment to the United States Constitution explicitly protects freedom of speech and expression, stating that “Congress shall make no law… abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press.” This provision guarantees that individuals have the right to communicate their thoughts and opinions without fear of government censorship or retaliation. Additionally, freedom of expression includes the right to assemble peacefully and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

In a rational climate of openness and mutual respect, diverse voices can be heard and understood without excluding anyone, thereby fostering dialogue and understanding aimed at achieving common ground. The protection of freedom of expression is not only a hallmark of individual liberty but also a cornerstone for building and maintaining social peace within a pluralistic society.

Furthermore, the U.S. Supreme Court has consistently upheld the importance of freedom of expression as essential to democratic governance and public discourse. By safeguarding artistic, scientific, and literary creativity, the Constitution supports a vibrant cultural and intellectual landscape. In this way, the American legal framework emphasizes that freedom of expression is indispensable for the integrity and continuity of the nation’s democratic fabric.

(5) Social Justice: Social justice is a fundamental pillar of social peace. Social peace cannot be realized in any community if a minority monopolizes everything while the majority lacks everything. The conflict between the two sides will be predominant. The concept of social justice is not limited to participation in wealth and expanding ownership to encompass broad sectors of society, ensuring a fair share of public services, but also extends to what we can call “social status,” achieved through clear indicators such as education. Social justice requires every individual to have a life opportunity deserved through their efforts and labor, meaning the absence of all forms of favoritism and nepotism, which serve as gateways to corruption.

(6) Citizenship Media: Society requires pluralistic media that supports it in practicing pluralism while revealing social, political, and cultural issues to be addressed for community advancement. Here we distinguish between two types of media: citizenship media and anti-citizenship media. Clearly, what social peace needs is media that enhances citizenship.
Citizenship media ensures that citizens’ concerns find space in media outlets. These concerns vary by social, religious, political, and cultural standings in society. There are issues pertinent to the poor, women, Christians, and workers, etc. Naturally, each societal group should find platform expression for their concerns in the media. The more the ordinary citizen finds a suitable space for expressing their concerns in the media, the more it indicates that media possess a dynamic, interactive nature with citizens.
Conversely, there is media that plays a role against the culture of citizenship, either by ignoring the concerns of citizens within society or by favoring expression that is classist, political, cultural, or religious pertaining to certain groups over others. It can go further when media is used politically, culturally, economically, or religiously as a divisive tool, inciting conflict among citizen groups, spreading a culture of animosity in society, or portraying segments of the population negatively, leading others to engage with them from an unjustifiable stance.

(7) Memory of Joint Work: Every community experiences moments of setback and difficulty. What is needed is to surpass these moments, allowing the community to be built on sound foundations of homogeneity, cohesion, and mutual respect. Thus, society requires persistent affirmation of the memory of joint work, recalling moments of unity, without each party’s obsession being centered solely on talking about what divides and scatters the community.
Some read history seeking factors supporting unity, while others seek those deepening discord. What is needed is to transmit the memory of joint work to the next generations, and regardless of the problems faced, discussions must focus on seeking solutions that deepen the shared work experience.