Effective Anti-Violence Norms and Enforcement

2. Intractable Conflict Threat and Opportunity

Another key attribute of successful democracies and conflict management systems.is that the government has a monopoly on violence, and it only uses that when absolutely necessary to maintain the peace, either domestically or internationally. Successful governments, their legal systems, and their law enforcement have sufficient legitimacy that almost everyone follows the laws, particularly the laws and social norms against violence. When there are conflicts, as there always will be, the social norms dictate that these be resolved nonviolently — through negotiation or some form of adjudication. Social norms and laws also assure that the legal system is administered fairly, as is law enforcement, which leads to the popular legitimacy of both. 

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