Strengthening peace: Quest for the transformative energy and prospects for change

This paper considers possibilities of postconflict societies to move forward and to assure stable and long-standing peace in spite of different psychological and structural obstacles. Author, from the positive psychology standpoint, proposes that human energy and envisioning of a better future for all could be the main engine in overcoming existing problems. Special attention has been addressed to the problem of how to find appropriate visionary leaders, what their desirable characteristics are and how to enhance their existing features as well as initiate the development of others. An educational course aiming at combining the acquisition of both knowledge of different aspects of postconflict problems and virtues like devotion and compassion, has been proposed. Prospects for expected outcomes and challenges on the way have been discussed in light of the approaches developed within positive psychology, as well as of the ever broader influence of globalization. The proposed solution has been confirmed by the results of a recent empirical research from the postconflict region of the Balkans. The paper ends with the optimistic conclusion that positive transformation is possible.