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CONCEPTUAL CLARIFICATION

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7 
Conflict: 
The term conflict derives from the Latin conjugere, which denotes "to strike together". The 
term initially means, "opposition among 'social entities directed against one another". (Otite and 
Albert 2001:1 -2). The use of the term "opposition" means a process by which social entities 
functions in the disservice of one another. Over the years, approaches to conflict have manifested 
in many ways from power bargaining techniques, normative and legal approaches to psychological 
attempts to change attitudes, ‘problem solving’ conflict management 'to conflict resolution. The 
structuralist's approach emphasize the influence of objective conditions in the generation of 
conflict. Conflict may be defined as a struggle or contest between people with opposing 'needs, 
ideas, beliefs, values, or goals."
Coser (1956:232) defines conflict" as a struggle over values or claim to status power, and 
scarce resources," in which the aims of the conflicting parties are not only to gain the desired 
values but also to neutralize, injure or eliminate their rivals. Careful analysis of these definitions 
will reveal what they have in common. First, they indicate the inevitability of conflict in human 
affairs, second they reveal the features of conflict situations, involve interdependents who perceive 
incompatibility from each other in achieving their goals. Therefore its suggests that conflict is 
inherent in human society. Whether, or not conflict plays a functional or dysfunctional role in 
human relation depends- on the manner such a conflict is managed and resolved. Nothing in the 
above situations suggest that conflict should necessarily be violent. 
Peace 
According to Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia peace can be said to be an occurrence of 
harmony characterized by the lack of violence, conflict behaviours and the freedom from fear of 
violence commonly understood as the absence of hostility and retribution. Peace also suggests 
sincere attempts at reconciliation, the existence of healthy or newly healed interpersonal or 
international relationships, prosperity in matter of social or economic welfare, the establishment 
of equality and a working political order that serves the true interest of all. Peace also refers to 
absence or direct violent. Peace according to Johan Galtung is divided into positive and negative 
peace.