Shaping peace in society

Realization of peace in social structures

Abstract

Based on the fundamental conflict of human existence due to our equally original love for ourselves and love for others combinded with a tendency to project what is not loved in ourselves onto the foreign others we observe an inclination for successive externalization and developing of enmity. Two concepts are discussed: The concept of “security logic” is positioned near the egoistic pole. It is challenged by the concept of “peace logic”, closer to the solidarity pole, which Hanne-Margret Birckenbach elaborates in five dimensions. Both concepts are located in the “values’ square” to see their “shadow” as well as possibilities for critical reflection. The logic of capitalism with a clear focus on egoism is the background noise for the continuous effort to build peaceful social structures, successively accepting and taking responsibility for the hated parts of the respective individual and collective self.