Theological Roots of Positive Peace: Bridging Johan Galtung's Theory and the Practice of Martin Luther King Jr.

Document Type : The Quarterly Jornal

Authors

1 Ph.D. in Comparative Study of Religions, Specialization in Christian Theology, Department of Abrahamic Religions, Faculty of Religions and Mysticism, University of Religions and Denominations, Qom, Iran (Corresponding Author).

2 Associate Professor, Department of Abrahamic Religions, Faculty of Religions and Mysticism, University of Religions and Denominations, Qom, Iran. meftah@urd.ac.ir

3 . Assistant Professor, Department of Abrahamic Religions, Faculty of Religions and Mysticism, University of Religions and Denominations, Qom, Iran.

10.22081/jpt.2025.73269.2296

Abstract

Using a descriptive-analytical method, this research examines the theoretical and practical nexus between Johan Galtung’s concept of "Positive Peace" and Martin Luther King Jr.’s Civil Rights Movement. It argues that King’s success in fostering structural transformations serves as an objective and efficient manifestation of this theory. Although Galtung’s framework has faced criticisms for being overly idealistic, this article demonstrates how King’s activism—rooted in Christian theological foundations, particularly Jesus’ teachings on "Agape love" (unconditional love for the enemy) and non-violent resistance—successfully implemented the theoretical principles of positive peace in practice. This included the elimination of structural violence (such as discriminatory laws) and cultural violence (which legitimizes racism). Drawing inspiration from Gandhi’s Satyagraha and providing a theological reinterpretation of Jesus' "Sermon on the Mount," King employed tactics such as sit-ins, boycotts, and civil disobedience as tools to awaken the moral conscience of society. Through conscious suffering without retaliation, he managed to break the cycle of violence. The tangible achievements of this movement, including the passage of the landmark Civil Rights Act (1964) and the Voting Rights Act (1965), facilitated not only the alteration of unjust structures but also the establishment of the foundations of justice and reconciliation—the very essence of positive peace. The findings indicate that the enduring success of this movement is rooted in the spiritual potency of Christian theology, proving that positive peace, through the synthesis of theological foundations and strategic organizing, is an attainable ideal and a practical response to Galtung’s critics.
 

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References

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