UNDERSTANDING THE VIOLENCE AGAINST ROHINGYA MUSLIMS THROUGH GALTUNG’S CONFLICT TRIANGLE

Abstract

This study examines the Rohingya conflict in Myanmar’s Rakhine State through Johan Galtung’s Conflict Triangle, analysing how direct, structural, and cultural violence interact and constrain pathways to sustainable peace. The study aims to (i) categorise the dimensions of violence shaping the crisis, (ii) evaluate national and international responses, and (iii) derive policy-relevant recommendations consistent with Galtung’s framework. Methodologically, it adopts a qualitative, interpretive, document-based design drawing on peer-reviewed studies and publicly available institutional and human rights reports identified through searches of Scopus and Google Scholar, with priority given to studies published after 2017. The evidence is organised using a framework-based qualitative analysis across the three dimensions of violence, complemented by a descriptive word-frequency analysis to map thematic patterns in the reviewed literature. The findings indicate that existing research places disproportionate emphasis on displacement and the Bangladesh-centred humanitarian dimension, while the structural and cultural drivers of the conflict remain comparatively underexamined. The study further shows that the Myanmar government’s resistance to reform and the strategic interests of regional powers—particularly China and, in some contexts, India—have constrained the effectiveness of United Nations initiatives and regional mechanisms such as ASEAN, limiting progress beyond addressing immediate humanitarian needs. The analysis recommends prioritising structural reforms, particularly the restoration of citizenship rights and improved access to basic services, alongside measures to counter hate speech and harmful online content and to promote interfaith dialogue and educational initiatives as part of an integrated approach to achieving durable peace.