In Reardon's distinction between positive and negative peace, negative peace…
2026
In Reardon's distinction between positive and negative peace, negative peace refers to:
Answer: D. The absence of war or physical forms of violence — ConceptPeace is often analyzed in two complementary senses. Negative peace is the absence of direct, overt violence; positive peace additionally involves just…
- A.
The presence of cooperation across cultural groups
- B.
A process for building supportive social institutions
- C.
A state where economic equality is fully achieved
- D.
The absence of war or physical forms of violence
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: D
Concept
Peace is often analyzed in two complementary senses. Negative peace is the absence of direct, overt violence; positive peace additionally involves just relationships and social structures that reduce structural violence.
A negative definition identifies peace by the non-occurrence of violence, whereas a positive definition describes constructive conditions that make peace sustainable.
Application
The phrase "the absence of war or physical forms of violence" fits the negative definition because it focuses on the non-occurrence of direct violence, without requiring institutional justice or economic equality.
Contrast
Cooperation across cultural groups describes constructive intergroup relations, a feature associated with the positive conditions of peace.
Building supportive social institutions concerns the creation of just and sustaining structures, which goes beyond merely stopping direct violence.
Full economic equality is a distributive social outcome; it is not required by the minimal, absence-based meaning of negative peace.
Cross-check
If cooperation, supportive institutions, or equality existed while direct violence continued, negative peace would still be absent. Conversely, overt violence may cease before those wider positive conditions are achieved.
Result
Therefore, negative peace refers to the absence of war or physical forms of violence.