in the Ukrainian nation. Children need to be taught to value hybridity in their culture, not purity, and recognise that Ukrainian identity may be experienced differently by different people.
Young people in the East should be aware of the positive – and Ukrainian – aspects of their region. But students in the rest of the country should also be taught to appreciate the diverse and mutually-enriching composition of the nation.
Norwegian scholar Johan Galtung has proposed a useful distinction between “positive” and “negative” peace. While “negative” peace implies the absence of direct personal violence, “positive” peace is a deeper, more just and sustainable form of peace that removes the causes of violence.
Considering the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, promoting peaceful approaches to difference should be at the top of the educational agenda. Positive peace education should also embrace social justice and youth development. The goal should be to build peaceful communities by educating democratically active and socially conscious citizens.
Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.