13 2.2 Peace. Peace is defined as the absence of violence – direct or indirect, manifest or posed as a threat. Peace is often viewed as a temporary and fleeting condition. To be enduring and genuine, it must be based on mutual respect, shared interests and common values. Peace is most often the result of a balance of power and agreed political spheres of interest between nations or one nation manifesting a superior political will. This is invariably backed by preponderance of force which is militarily unchallenged by others. In either case, peace is ultimately sustained by, and is dependent upon, the willingness of states to use force to preserve it as well as restore it when lost. 2.3 Conflict. The essence of conflict is a clash, usually violent, between opposing human wills, each trying to impose itself on the other. In, both, inter-state and intra-state conflicts, the means to impose one’s will could include diplomatic, economic and political mechanisms as well as the application or threat of violence by military force. Military action is just one instrument, amongst several, which may be used to impose a nation’s will. Armed conflict is synonymous with war. Today international mechanisms, including the influence exercised by major powers, are in place to resolve or limit conflicts because of their potential to lead to undesired war. 2.4 The State of War. War occurs when diplomatic and other negotiation mechanisms for resolving conflict or achieving desired political objectives either fail or are not operative. In such circumstances political aims and strategies are pursued by the use of armed force. War is prosecuted by the employment of strategy which aims at breaking the enemy’s will to fight. Disengagement from war is difficult because it develops its own dynamics and pace, which in themselves are unpredictable and could spin out of control. While war is always to be avoided, democratic societies must, nonetheless, be prepared to engage in it to safeguard their national interests.