From this Vol. 4: War, Power, Peace, and previous Vol. 1: The Dynamic Psychological Field, Vol. 2: The Conflict Helix, Vol. 3: Conflict In Perspective, and related works, we can draw several basic empirical conclusions about our conflict with each other, whether interpersonal, social, or international. These conclusions have been stated as primary propositions in Appendix 19B and therein related to the propositions established in this and the other volumes mentioned, and in my Field Theory Evolving (1977)

In all, the empirical conclusions are that:

• disrupted expectations cause conflict behavior,

• power shapes conflict,

• freedom minimizes violence,

• cooperation and conflict behavior are independent,

• change produces conflict,

• conflict takes place in a situation,

• individual perceptions and expectations condition conflict,

• sociocultural distances affect conflict.

These empirical conclusions get their meaning and substance from a perspective on conflict. This is that:

• conflict is a process of establishing a balance of powers in a social field;

• peace, harmony, and cooperation are a structure of expectations congruent with a balance of powers;

• conflict tends to become less intense and frequent and peace more enduring.

The empirical conclusions and this perspective apply to interpersonal conflict, social (collective) conflict within societies, and international conflict. They constitute together a view of conflict scientifically confirmed by the historical and contemporary record of humanity's social and international conflicts.

Yet, one must ask, of what moment are these conclusions? Of what value? From them what can we assert about eliminating or managing conflict, violence, and war? And especially, how do we do this consistent with social justice? This is the concern of Vol. 5: The Just Peace.¹ But before moving on to this, Chapter 20 is necessary to pull these volumes and propositions together in a set of principles which make explicit and organize simply and clearly the assumptions, theory, and findings explicit in this work.