This field research paper explores the meaning of peace education in
relation to peer mediation activities in Northern Ireland which have tried to
reduce violence based on social division. Peace education is one of
conscientious curriculum stimulating the peace characteristics of human
beings that challenge the social evils derived from the structural violence.
Peace education in the divided societies such as Korea, Northern Ireland
and old Germany aims to empower people to construct the peaceful system
of coexistence by critically understanding the knowledge of national division
and forming the peace-oriented attitude and values so as to overcome the
divided system. In particular, it is urgently needed to dismantle the
religious division in schools which has justified the division of political
economy in Northern Ireland. In transition from two religious identities
conflicting structure between Catholic and Protestant into multi-cultural
society, peer mediation has been introduced to Northern Ireland integrated
schools in order to cope with plural social problems as one of nonviolent
and peaceful life skills for peace. Peer mediation is evaluated as a peace
education in schools which practices the culture of peace encouraged by
UNESCO beyond religious extremism for the purpose of education for conflict resolution and mutual understanding among friends from diverse
backgrounds.