Reconciliation: Reflections on the Theoretical and Practical Utility of the Term

People have always attempted to study war, peace, and the transition from one state to the other in the context of human collective behavior. Because both war and peace involve the welfare of society, this duality has gotten the attention of not just students and practitioners but also of the general public. As people continue to analyze this duality's dynamic, it is realized that such developments reveal contradictions. While some situations would illustrate violent and dramatic conflict, others would show the establishment of formal agreements and negotiations for peace. The need arises to find better conceptual and practical tools that would enable improved analysis of the transition. This chapter points out how reconciliation may not be the key concept as it still lacks function on a theoretical level, and clarifies the notion of "reconciliation".