Civil peace and the protection of the Syrian family

Introduction:

Civil peace is a state of stability and peaceful coexistence within society, where all forms of violence and conflict are rejected, whether through incitement, provocation, or justification. It aims to promote a culture of dialogue and understanding among the various components of society, respect for human rights, the rule of law, and the political and economic participation of all individuals without discrimination.

“Civil Peace” Philosophically:

There are many philosophical approaches that have addressed the issue of civil peace, and among the most notable are:

1. Thomas Hobbes, in his book Leviathan (published in 1651), discusses the importance of a strong state to ensure civil peace. Hobbes believes that human nature tends toward conflict and violence, and therefore, the existence of a strong authority is the only way to guarantee peace and stability within society.
2. John Locke, in his book Two Treatises of Government, opposes Hobbes’ idea of absolute authority and emphasizes the importance of a social contract that guarantees individual rights and freedoms. Locke believes that civil peace can be achieved through a government that respects property rights and personal liberty.
3. Jean-Jacques Rousseau, in his book The Social Contract, presents a different view of the social contract, believing that civil peace can be achieved through the general will, which expresses the interests of society as a whole, rather than through absolute individual authority.
4. John Rawls, in his book A Theory of Justice, discusses how to achieve social justice as a means to attain civil peace. Rawls proposes two key principles: the principle of equal liberty and the difference principle, where social and economic inequalities should be arranged in a way that benefits the least advantaged members of society.
5. Jürgen Habermas, in his works on communicative action, emphasizes the importance of dialogue and communication as a means to achieve understanding and civil peace. He believes that rational communication can lead to social and political consensus, contributing to the attainment of civil peace.
6. Nancy Fraser, in her writings on social justice, discusses the importance of recognition and fair representation as a means to achieve civil peace. She emphasizes the need to address cultural and social disparities to create an equitable and peaceful society.
7. Amartya Sen, in his book The Idea of Justice, presents a comprehensive view of justice that includes individual freedoms and capabilities as a means to achieve civil peace. He emphasizes the importance of empowering individuals and providing equal opportunities for all.
8. There are also many Muslim philosophers who have addressed the topic of civil peace in their writings and ideas. Al-Farabi is considered one of the most prominent Muslim philosophers to have implicitly discussed the concept of civil peace. In his book The Virtuous City, Al-Farabi discusses how to achieve peace and stability within society through justice, good governance, and cooperation among community members. Ibn Rushd (Averroes) emphasized the importance of reason and understanding in achieving civil peace, believing that philosophy and religion can work together to create a stable and peaceful society. In his book The Revival of the Religious Sciences, Al-Ghazali discusses the importance of ethics and spiritual upbringing in achieving civil peace. Ibn Khaldun, in his famous Muqaddimah, addresses the topic of civil peace by studying the social, economic, and political factors that affect the stability of societies. Ibn Khaldun believes that justice, a strong economy, and good governance are fundamental to achieving civil peace.
9. There are also several modern Muslim philosophers and thinkers who have addressed the topic of civil peace in their writings and ideas. In his works on contemporary Islamic thought, Mohammed Arkoun discusses the subject of civil peace through his critique of traditional mindsets and his call for renewing Islamic thought to align with the demands of the modern era.
10. Arkoun also believed that achieving civil peace requires enhancing dialogue and understanding between different cultures and religions. In his writings on ethical philosophy, Taha Abderrahmane discusses the importance of moral and religious values in achieving civil peace. He emphasized the necessity of promoting shared human values to ensure peaceful coexistence among members of society. Abdolkarim Soroush, in his works on religious reform, addressed the subject of civil peace by calling for the renewal of religious thought and fostering tolerance and understanding among various sects and schools of thought.

The topic of civil peace has been a focus of philosophy, both ancient and modern, as it is considered the foundational element of the state and society, in addition to being the cornerstone in preserving the family from collapsing in the midst of internal conflict.

Civil Peace in Sociology:

Civil peace is considered a central concept in sociology, referring to a state of stability and peaceful coexistence within society, where all forms of violence and conflict are rejected. Civil peace aims to promote understanding and cooperation among the various components of society, while ensuring the rights and freedoms of individuals.

The importance of civil peace is highlighted through:

1. Social Stability: Civil peace is the foundation for achieving social stability, as it helps reduce conflicts and disputes within society.
2. Economic Development: Civil peace enhances economic development by providing a stable and secure environment for investment and work.
3. Social Cohesion: Civil peace aids in strengthening social cohesion and solidarity among community members, contributing to the construction of a strong and interconnected society.
4. Social Justice: Civil peace contributes to achieving social justice by ensuring individuals’ rights and equality among them.

Based on this, factors emerge that help achieve civil peace, such as spreading a culture of peace and tolerance through educational curricula and media, ensuring the realization of justice and equality in rights and duties for all members of society without discrimination, while providing job opportunities and improving living conditions to reduce poverty and marginalization. Additionally, strengthening the rule of law and respecting human rights is essential to guarantee protection from violence and persecution.

Lastly, but not least, encouraging active political participation from all groups in decision-making.

Perhaps the most prominent social theories related to civil peace are two:

1. The first is the behavioral theory, which focuses on the impact of individual and collective behaviors on achieving civil peace. This theory suggests that promoting positive behaviors and cooperation is essential.
2. The second is the social change theory, which studies how social changes affect civil peace. This theory posits that social changes can either improve or deteriorate the state of civil peace depending on how these changes are managed.

Civil Peace and Family Protection:

Civil peace plays a vital role in protecting the family and enhancing its stability. The most important ways in which civil peace can contribute to family protection are:

1. Social stability: Civil peace helps create a stable and safe environment, which enhances the sense of security among family members. This stability helps reduce tensions and conflicts within the family.
2. Education and awareness: By spreading the culture of peace and tolerance, families can learn how to handle conflicts peacefully and constructively. Education and awareness strengthen the ethical values that support understanding and cooperation within the family.
3. Justice and equality: Civil peace ensures justice and equality within society, which positively impacts the family. When individuals feel their rights are protected and they are treated fairly, they are more capable of building healthy and stable family relationships.
4. Economic development: Civil peace promotes economic development, providing job opportunities and improving living conditions for families. This can reduce economic pressures that might lead to conflicts within the family.
5. Rule of law: Strengthening the rule of law and respecting human rights ensures the protection of individuals from violence and persecution. This creates a safe environment for families, where they can live without fear of violence or discrimination.
6. Encouraging community and political participation: This enhances a sense of belonging and responsibility among individuals, which can also have a positive impact on families, as people feel they are part of a larger community that supports and protects them.

We at the Family Affairs Office for the Syrian Future Movement, through these factors, believe that civil peace can play an important role in protecting the family and enhancing its stability. Therefore, protecting the Syrian family by establishing civil peace requires following a set of steps and measures that enhance stability and understanding within society, which we recommend adopting, namely:

1. Encouraging open dialogue between the various components of Syrian society to enhance mutual understanding and cooperation. Workshops and community initiatives can be organized to promote a culture of dialogue and tolerance.
2. Promoting a culture of peace and tolerance through educational curricula and media, where educational materials focusing on the importance of civil peace and peaceful coexistence can be included in school curricula.
3. Ensuring justice and equality in rights and duties for all members of society without discrimination, by reinforcing the rule of law and guaranteeing human rights to protect individuals from violence and persecution.
4. Providing job opportunities and improving living conditions to reduce poverty and marginalization, such as supporting small and medium enterprises and providing training programs for youth to empower them economically.
5. Encouraging active political participation for all groups in decision-making. For example, organizing free and fair elections that ensure the representation of all community components.
6. Religious and social leaders can play an important role in promoting civil peace by calling for tolerance and peaceful coexistence. Meetings and conferences can be organized to bring together various leaders to foster understanding and cooperation.
7. Adopting a transitional justice approach to strengthen the rule of law and ensure justice for victims. Fair trials and holding those responsible for violations accountable can be organized to ensure that such violations are not repeated.
8. Using media and social media to spread awareness and highlight real stories that showcase the elements of coexistence and positive actions, through organizing media campaigns aimed at promoting civil peace and rejecting violence.

Through these measures, we believe at the Family Affairs Office that civil peace can be enhanced and the Syrian family can be protected from the challenges it faces.

Conclusion:

Civil peace is considered a fundamental pillar for protecting the Syrian family and enhancing its stability. By promoting dialogue and understanding, ensuring justice and equality, and achieving economic development, a safe and stable environment can be created, enabling families to live in peace and dignity.

Enhancing civil peace is not limited to providing physical safety but also extends to psychological and social security, contributing to the building of a cohesive and strong society. Therefore, efforts to promote civil peace should be a top priority in the efforts to rebuild Syria, ensuring a bright and sustainable future for all members of society.

Family Affairs Office
Waheba Al-Masri
Research and Studies Department
Articles
Syrian Future Movement