562 Journal of the Spanish Institute for Strategic Studies N. 5 / 2015 to individual benefit, although they usually fail to mention that this is what a few consider to be beneficial for the group versus the misfortune of a far higher number of individuals. Hence, this is a modern form of enlightened despotism. It must be acknowledged that structural violence may force an individual to take a course of action, in collaboration with others, to effect social change in order to alleviate this pressure. Notwithstanding this point, history affords us with multiple examples of non-violent movements that have been able to achieve their objectives despite being confronted with structural violence. Gandhi, Luther King, the Polish trade union Solidarnosc, the Carnation Revolution in Portugal, the fight against Apartheid, or the Spanish Transition, to name but a few. As human beings, what singles us out from the rest of the animals is our rational capacity. The path of reason is a slow one. It requires study, intelligence and personal sacrifice vis-à-vis the sacrifices of others. If violence is part of the human social condition, intelligence also forms part of human nature. To betray this is to betray our human condition. To justify direct violence as the only way out of structural violence is nothing but a way of justifying discourse that aims to encourage others to make sacrifices in the pursuit of goals that run counter to the real interests of the group. Although there is no justification for direct violence, except in the event of self-defence, and nor can one justify acquiescence in structural violence, it is not realistic to aspire to a world characterised by the absence of violence This would be a utopia. Since violence will always be present, it is necessary to work tirelessly to tame it in all its forms. THE ROLE OF FRUSTRATION IN SOCIAL CONFLICT Law forms part of the reality of conflict. Any claim is nothing but an assertion of that which is seen as a right, we can thus consider law as a source of conflict.96 The agonal state cannot resolve all issues. The need for modifications shall always exist, either because of incompleteness, because of socio-economic changes to a place or, quite simply because it contradicts natural law.97 When a body of law does not have mechanisms at its disposal in order to effect change, this leaves no other alternative to conflict as a way of modifying something seen as an injustice. Law cannot be considered a solution to violence, but it does serve 96 FREUND. Opus cit. p 278. 97 Ibid. p 286. http://revista.ieee.es/index.php/ieee
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