Local knowledge as a foundation for environmental peacebuilding: Interpreting Johan Galtung’s theory within the environmental security framework
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.61511/napbres.v3i1.2026.3212Keywords:
environmental peacebuilding, environmental security, human security, local knowledge, peaceAbstract
Background: Environmental degradation and social inequality demonstrate that peace cannot be defined simply as the absence of war or the cessation of conflict. This paper draws on the peace theory proposed by Johan Galtung. In this context, positive peace is understood as an effort to transform structural conditions that maintain inequality, by linking environmental justice to human dignity and ecological ethics. Methods: Using a qualitative-interpretive approach with conceptual analysis of various literature and secondary data through reports from international institutions, news, and academic journals related to environmental security issues and local community-based studies, including indigenous peoples affected by environmental change. The analysis was conducted through a synthesis of Johan Galtung's peace theory with the human security framework as developed by the UNDP in 1994, specifically on the environmental security dimension and its relationship with local knowledge systems. Findings: The analysis shows that local knowledge strengthens environmental security through adaptive and relational mechanisms that maintain the balance between humans and nature. Thus, local knowledge is not merely a traditional practice, but a foundation for sustainable peace that restores human dignity and its ecosystem. This role is evident in the three main dimensions of human security; freedom from fear, freedom from want, and freedom to live in dignity—interpreted as ecological rights within a reciprocal human-nature relationship. Conclusion: The integration of positive peace and human security in environmental security offers a transformative approach to environmental peacebuilding that places local knowledge in collaboration in determining policy directions and nonviolent resistance in ecological restoration. Novelty/Originality of this article: The novelty of this research contributes to bridging Johan Galtung's theory of peace and environmental security to the discourse of environmental peacebuilding through the lens of local knowledge epistemology, by offering a conceptual framework that places local knowledge as a core element in sustainable peacebuilding.
References
Amadei, B. (2020). Revisiting positive peace using systems tools. Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 158, 120149. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techfore.2020.120149
Avilés I, D., Mora-Motta, A., Barbosa P, A., Bharati, L., Biber-Freudenberger, L., Petersheim, C., Quispe-Zuniga, M. R., Schmitt, C. B., & Youkhana, E. (2022). Integrating scientific and local knowledge to address environmental conflicts: The role of academia. Human Ecology, 50(5), 911-923. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10745-022-00344-2
Barnes, P. A., Aninta, S. G., Ariyanto, T., Musa Holle, M. J., Khairul Ikhawan, M., & Jayanto, H. (2023). The gap between policy and practice for human rights in conservation: a case study in Papua Province, Indonesia. Oryx, 57(3), 360-369. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0030605323000066
Bayerlein, M., Kamin, K., & Krahmann, E. (2024). From negative to positive peace: How norms relate to different peace dimensions. Journal of Intervention and Statebuilding, 19(4), 519-539. https://doi.org/10.1080/17502977.2024.2335609
Berg, T., Nieto, E. A., Moura, S., Souza M., Lucio, Z. M., Graziele, Silva, Meisner, J. (2025). Socio-ecological conflict in Quilombola territory: land titling and ecosystem health. Sustainability Science 20, 903–918 https://doi.org/10.1007/s11625-025-01632-8
Bo, C. M. (2025). Pope Francis: Shepherd of nonviolence. Vatican News. https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2025-04/pope-francis-shepherd-of-nonviolence.html
Branagan, M. (2022). Nonviolence and sustainability: An indivisible connection. Sustainability, 14(11), 6426. https://doi.org/10.3390/su14116426
Breed, A., Pells, K., Elliott, M., & Prentki, T. (2022). Mobile Arts for Peace (MAP): Creating art-based communication structures between young people and policy-makers from local to national levels. Research in Drama Education: The Journal of Applied Theatre and Performance, 27(3), 304–321. https://doi.org/10.1080/13569783.2022.2088274
Brondízio, E. S., McElwee, P., Fernández-Llamazares, Á., Cotta, R., Bai, X., & Bai, Y. (2021). Locally based, regionally manifested, and globally relevant: Indigenous and local knowledge, values, and practices for nature. Annual Review of Environment and Resources, 46, 481–509. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-environ-012220-012127
Byskov, M., F., & Hyams, K. (2022). Epistemic injustice in climate adaptation. Ethical Theory and Moral Practice, 25, 613–634. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10677-022-10301-z
Chola, J., Nshimbi, C. C., & Phiri, D. (2024). The hybridisation, resilience, and loss of local knowledge and natural resource management in Zambia. Human Ecology, 52(1), 85–102. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10745-024-00545-x
Comerford, D. A., & Fearnside, P. M. (2022). Conflicts over land as a risk for social-ecological resilience: A transnational comparative analysis in the southwestern Amazon. Sustainability, 14(11), 6520. https://doi.org/10.3390/su14116520
Comerford, M., & Fearnside, P. M. (2022). Deforestation and social impacts in the Brazilian Amazon: Implications for human security. Environmental Management, 69(5), 873–889. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00267-022-01632-3
Crockford, S. (2023). That which they will not see: Climate denial as a vector of epistemological crisis in the contemporary United States. Ethnos: Journal of Anthropology, 88(3), 362–382. https://doi.org/10.1080/00141844.2023.2242599
Damai Pangkal Damai (2025). Mengenal nirkekerasan. Instagram.com. https://www.instagram.com/damaipangkaldamai?igsh=dHRjNWQwdHRjYzZx
Dawson, N. M., Coolsaet, B., Bhardwaj, A., Booker, F., Brown, D., Lliso, B., Loos, J., Martin, A., Oliva, M., Pascual, U., Sherpa, P., & Worsdell, T. (2024). Is it just conservation? A typology of Indigenous peoples’ and local communities’ roles in conserving biodiversity. One Earth, 7(6), 1007–1021. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.oneear.2024.05.001
Eklöw, K., Hegazi, F., Krampe, F., Michel, D., Smith, E., de Coning, C., Busby, J., Lanteigne, M., Pattison, C., & Ray, C. (2022). Security risks of environmental crises: Environment of Peace (Part 2). Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. https://doi.org/10.55163/VZIQ7863
Fatharini, A. T., Aini, A. N., & Anggraheni, P. (2023). From Indigenous Knowledge to Human Security: A case study of Sekolah Adat Kewang in Maluku, Indonesia. Journal of Human Security Studies, 12(2), 45–60. https://doi.org/10.22219/gli.v4i1.33796
Fitzpatrick, B. J. (2021). Studying across: Anthropology, conflict transformation and cultural violence in environmental conflict. Vibrant: Virtual Brazilian Anthropology, 18, e18704. https://doi.org/10.1590/1809-43412021v18a704
Galtung, J. (1969). Violence, peace, and peace research. Journal of Peace Research, 6 (3), 167–191. https://doi.org/10.1177/002234336900600301
Galtung, J. (1990). Cultural violence. Journal of Peace Research, 27(3), 291–305. https://doi.org/10.1177/0022343390027003005
Galtung, J. (1996). From a culture of violence to a culture of peace. UNESCO.
Ghofur, M. (2024). Persisting pranata mangsa: The challenges of traditional knowledge practices in the era of climate crisis. Jurnal Pemikiran Sosiologi, 11(2). https://doi.org/10.22146/jps.v11i2.101311
Hanazaki, N. (2024). Local and traditional knowledge systems, resistance, and socioenvironmental justice. Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine, 20(1), 5. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13002-023-00641-0
Ide, T., Bruch, C., Carius, A., Conca, K., Dabelko, G. D., Matthew, R., & Weinthal, E. (2021). The past and future(s) of environmental peacebuilding. International Affairs, 97(1), 1–16. https://doi.org/10.1093/ia/iiaa177
Jahel, C., & Lambin, E. F. (2024). Reversing degradation of social–ecological systems: Explaining the outcomes of interventions in Africa. Sustainability Science, 20, 439–468. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11625-024-01568-5
Kapadia, F. (2024). The value of peace: A public health of consequence. American Journal of Public Health, 114(1), 13–15. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2023.307522
Kennedy, C., M, Fariss, B., Oakleaf, J., R., Garnett, S., T., Fernández-Llamazares, A., Fa, J., E., Baruch-Mordo, S., Kiesecker, J. (2023). Indigenous Peoples’ lands are threatened by industrial development; conversion risk assessment reveals need to support Indigenous stewardship. One Earth, 6(8), 1032-1049. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.oneear.2023.07.006
Krampe, F. (2021). Ownership and inequalities: Exploring UNEP’s Environmental Cooperation for Peacebuilding Programme. Sustainability Science, 16, 1159-1172. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11625-021-00926-x
Krampe, F., O’Driscoll, D., Johnson, M., Simangan, D., Hegazi, F., & de Coning, C. (2024). Climate change and peacebuilding: Sub-themes of an emerging research agenda. International Affairs, 100(3), 1111–1130. https://doi.org/10.1093/ia/iiae057
Langemeyer, J., Busse, S., Arabas, A., Benati, G., Bergier, T., Maestre-Andrés, S., & Melo, I. (2025). Social-ecological justice in cities: A spatial vulnerability approach. npj Urban Sustainability, 5, 46. https://doi.org/10.1038/s42949-025-00234-8
Le Billon, P., Rincón Ruiz, A., & Rodríguez, C. (2023). Conceptualizing community-based environmental peacebuilding in Cesar, Colombia. Human Ecology, 51(5), 811–826. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10745-023-00399-9
Liu, F., Liu, J., & Yang, H. (2023). A review of social–ecological system research and its applications. Sustainability, 15(8), 6930. https://doi.org/10.3390/su15086930
Loos, J., Benra, F., Berbés-Blázquez, M., Carmenta, R., Horcea-Milcu, A.-I., & Lang, D. J. (2023). An environmental justice perspective on ecosystem services. Ambio, 52, 2203–2217. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13280-022-01812-1
Maleku, A. (2025). Toward epistemic justice in social work research: (Re)imagining global knowledge production. The British Journal of Social Work, 55(2), 613–633. https://doi.org/10.1093/bjsw/bcad232
Manyani, A., Biggs, R., Hill, L., & Preiser, R. (2024). The evolution of social-ecological systems (SES) research. Ecology and Society, 29(1), 33. https://doi.org/10.5751/ES-14694-290133
Masferrer, A. (2023). The Decline of Freedom of Expression and Social Vulnerability in Western democracy. International Journal for the Semiotics of Law - Revue internationale de Sémiotique juridique, 36(4), 1-33. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11196-023-09990-1
Mashizi, A. K., & Escobedo, F. (2025). The role of traditional ecological knowledge and ecosystem quality in managing ecosystem services. Scientific Reports, 15(1), 31510. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-17611-z
Masterson, V. A., Stedman, R. C., Enqvist, J. P., Tengö, M., Giusti, M., Wahl, D., & Svedin, U. (2019).
Mikkonen, J., & Raatikainen, K. J. (2024). Aesthetics in biodiversity conservation. The Journal of Aesthetics and Art Criticism, 82(2), 174–190. https://doi.org/10.1093/jaac/kpae020
Naheed, S., & Shooshtarian, S. (2022). The role of cultural heritage in promoting urban sustainability: A brief review. Land, 11(9), 1508. https://doi.org/10.3390/land11091508
Nangia, T. (2025, 6 Oktober). Satyagraha. Encyclopaedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/satyagraha-philosophy
Ojha, A. K. (n.d.). Relevance of Satyagraha as a weapon of conflict resolution. Mahatma Gandhi e-Library. https://www.mkgandhi.org/articles/relevance-of-Satyagraha-as-a-weapon-of-conflict-resolution.html
Otamendi-Urroz, I., Quintas-Soriano, C., Martín-López, B., Iniesta-Arandia, I., García-Llorente, M., Benayas, J., & Castro, A. J. (2023). The role of emotions in human–nature connectedness within Mediterranean landscapes in Spain. Sustainability Science, 18(7), 2181–2197. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11625-023-01343-y
Panikkar, B., Moore, M., & Levesque, V. (2023). What does environmental justice look like in Vermont? Centering perspectives from the margins. Journal of Environmental Studies and Sciences, 13(3), 431–447. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13412-023-00829-6
Petz, D., Handiani, D., S., Kusumaningrum, D., Aprillia, K., R. (2020). Damai Pangkal Damai: Membela demokrasi di tengah pandemi. Institute of International Studies, Department of International Relations, Universitas Gadjah Mada.
Reines Djivanides, S., & Conti, L. (2021). If you want peace, prepare for war… really? Agency for Peacebuilding. https://www.peaceagency.org/if-you-want-peace-prepare-for-war-really/
Ritchie, H. (2023). Global inequalities in CO₂ emissions. Our World in Data. https://ourworldindata.org/inequality-co2
Roser, M., (2021). Global economic inequality: What matters most for your living conditions is not who you are, but where you are. Our World in Data. https://ourworldindata.org/global-economic-inequality-introduction
Sanz, T., & Rodríguez-Labajos, B. (2021). Does artistic activism change anything? Strategic and transformative effects of arts in anti-coal struggles in Oakland, CA. Geoforum, 122, 41–54. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoforum.2021.03.010
Selby, J., Dabelko, G. D., Ide, T., & Matthew, R. A. (2024). The many faces of environmental security. Annual Review of Environment and Resources, 49, 1–26. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-environ-112922-114232
Setiawan, A., Syahrial, S., Mulyani, N. S., & Hapsari, A. A. (2025). The environmental dynamics in shaping ecological governance for sustainable development in coastal areas. Discover Sustainability, 6(1), 18. https://doi.org/10.1007/s43621-025-01849-8
Simangan, D., Lee, C. Y., Sharifi, A., Lee Candelaria, J., & Kaneko, S. (2022). A global analysis of interactions between peace and environmental sustainability. Earth System Governance, 14, 100152. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.esg.2022.100152
Stålhammar, S., & Thorén, H. (2019). Three perspectives on relational values of nature. Sustainability Science, 14(5), 1201-1212. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11625-019-00718-4
Ștefanachi, B. (2021). From state to individual: Human security – A new framework of security. Eastern Journal of European Studies, 12(2), 179–198. https://ejes.uaic.ro/articles/EJES2021_1202_STE.pdf
Sunarto, S.E.R, Taum, Y.Y., & Adji, S.E.P. (2021). Kekerasan dalam novel Lolong Anjing di Bulan karya Arafat Nur: Perspektif Johan Galtung. Sintesis, 15 (2), 98-112. https://doi.org/10.24071/sin.v15i2.3816
Swain, A., Bruch, C., Ide, T., Lujala, P., Matthew, R., & Weinthal, E. (2023). Environment and security in the 21st century. Environment and Security, 2(1), 1–16. https://doi.org/10.1177/27538796221149609
Tarusarira, J. (2022). Religious environmental sensemaking in climate-induced conflicts. Religions, 13(3), 204. https://doi.org/10.3390/rel13030204
The contribution of sense of place to social-ecological systems research: A review and research agenda. Ecology and Society, 24(1), 44. https://doi.org/10.5751/ES-10729-240144
United Nations Development Programme-UNDP. (2025). Human Development Report 2025: A Matter of Choice – People and Possibilities in the Age of AI. New York: UNDP.
United Nations Development Programme. (1994). Human Development Report 1994: New dimensions of human security. United Nations Development Programme. https://hdr.undp.org/content/human-development-report-1994
United Nations Development Programme. (2023). Global progress report on SDG 16: A wake-up call for action on peace, justice and inclusion. Global Policy Centre for Governance, UNDP. https://www.undp.org/policy-centre/governance/publications/global progress-report-sdg-16
United Nations. (n.d.). Goal 16 | Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels. SDGs.un.org. United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs. https://sdgs.un.org/goals/goal16
Webel, C., & Galtung, J. (Eds). (2007). Handbook of peace and conflict studies (Vol. 7). London: Yellow Cloud Routledge.
Yellow Cloud, Q., & Redvers, N. (2023). Honoring Indigenous Sacred Places and Spirit in Environmental Health. Environmental Health Perspectives, 17, 1-4 https://doi.org/10.1177/11786302231157507
Yoshida, Y., Matsuda, H., Fukushi, K., Takeuchi, K., Watanabe, R. (2022). The missing intangibles: Reuters contributions to human wellbeing through place attachment and social capital. Sustainability Science, 17, 809-822. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11625-021-01067-x
Zelli, F., & Krause, T. (2025). The nature of peace: trajectories of environmental peacebuilding between dominant narratives and power relations. Ecology and Society, 30(2), 5. https://doi.org/10.5751/ES-15971-300205
Zimmermann, K., & Lee, D. (2021). Environmental justice and green infrastructure in the Ruhr: From distributive to institutional conceptions of justice. Frontiers in Sustainable Cities, 3, 670190. https://doi.org/10.3389/frsc.2021.670190
Zurba, M., & Papadopoulos, A. (2021). Indigenous participation and the Incorporation of indigenous knowledge and perspectives in global environmental governance forums: a systematic review. Environmental Management, 72, 84-99. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00267-021-01566-8
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
Citation Check
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Nadia Varayandita Ingrida
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
