Abstract
Questions of equality and justice have long been important in peace and conflict studies, and a consensus has emerged that systematic inequalities between culturally defined groups, or “horizontal inequalities” (HIs), are associated with various forms of violence. In this paper, we show that many of the ideas and assumptions in the conceptual groundwork and theorization that underpin research on this topic can be traced back to the seminal work of Johan Galtung, although they are rarely attributed to him. We summarize Galtung’s arguments regarding structural inequalities, culture, and violence, including his concept of rank disequilibrium, which problematizes the multidimensionality of inequality and its associated conflict potential. To evaluate the empirical validity of some of Galtung’s theoretical contributions, we review the existing quantitative literature on the relationship between inequality—both vertical (VI) and horizontal (HI)—and violent conflict mobilization within states. Based on this review, which shows some (but far from unequivocal) support for his propositions, we revisit Galtung’s arguments, discussing the opportunities and challenges associated with operationalizing his ideas within the context of contemporary peace and conflict research.
