Gandhi and Galtung

The impact of Gandhi on the development of Johan Galtung's peace research

Thomas Weber, La Trobe University

"Johan Galtung is often referred to as the ‘father of modern peace research’. His writings, especially his work on structural violence, which is now one of the concepts underpinning the discipline, are very reminiscent of some of Gandhi’s key doctrines. This may be coincidental or there may be a causal link. While Galtung freely acknowledges the strong influence of Gandhi on his thought, others seem to downplay or dismiss the Gandhian connection. In comparing the writings of the two in peace-related areas and by examining Galtung’s references to Gandhi, it becomes clear that there is a strong causal Gandhian underpinning to Galtung’s peace research. As modern peace research is not understandable without Galtung’s contribution, so Galtung’s work is not fully understandable without a knowledge of Gandhi’s influence to his thought."