563 José María Santé Abal How to prevent social conflicts from becoming armed conflicts to contain it,98 perhaps acting as a prevention mechanism, which permits conflict to persist while controlling the risk of it becoming violent. We should not rule out the possibility that societies may exist whose reform mechanisms would not be up to the task of channelling the potential aspirations of the population. Nevertheless, we should not simplify the situation here by drawing a distinction between democratic systems and autocratic ones. It does not ensue that within an autocratic system the only way to effect change is through violence, nor even in a democratic system that rejection of the path of violence is a given. The history of Spain in the 20th century is one example of this, with the transformation from a democratic system of the Second Spanish Republic to the Civil War or the peaceful transition from the autarchic system under the Francoist dictatorship to a democratic system. History shows us, through a multitude of examples, that it is not social systems in themselves that have assured alternative ways forward, but instead that people and circumstances had an essential part to play in the path chosen and the success of this decision.99 On the assumption that alternatives to direct violence exist as a way of vanquishing structural violence, we should ask ourselves what inspires the group to choose one over another. In order to try to answer this question, will shall begin by studying the turning point of the conflict. One of the principal arguments advanced by many researchers as to the origin of violence is one linked to a generalised state of frustration among a group. According to Graham-Gurr, frustration is the main reason for the violent behaviour observed in certain social groups in the United States.100 Frustration is a factor that, alongside other factors, may trigger violent behaviour. Relative frustration, provoked by comparison, is incredibly powerful, both for comparison with others and when comparing how things were for oneself in the past.101 98 Ibid. p 279-80. 99 ROBERTS, Adam. “Introduction” in ROBERTS, A., and GARTON, ASH T. (edit.), Civil Resistance and Power Politics: The Experience of Non-violent Action from Gandhi to the Present. Oxford University Press, 2009, New York. ISBN 978-0-19-955201-6 p 20-24. 100 GRAHAM, H. D. and GURR T. F. (dir.) The History of violence in America. Report to the National Commission on the Causes and Prevention of Violence, Bantam Books, 1969 apud HALLORAN, James D., “Mass Communication: Symptom or Cause of Violence?” in JOXE, A. (coord.), La Violence et ses Causes, Paris, Unesco, 1981 p 142 . 101 KLINEBERG Opus cit. p 129-31. http://revista.ieee.es/index.php/ieee
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