peace importance essay

Essay on Peace

500 words essay peace.

Peace is the path we take for bringing growth and prosperity to society. If we do not have peace and harmony, achieving political strength, economic stability and cultural growth will be impossible. Moreover, before we transmit the notion of peace to others, it is vital for us to possess peace within. It is not a certain individual’s responsibility to maintain peace but everyone’s duty. Thus, an essay on peace will throw some light on the same topic.

Importance of Peace

History has been proof of the thousands of war which have taken place in all periods at different levels between nations. Thus, we learned that peace played an important role in ending these wars or even preventing some of them.

In fact, if you take a look at all religious scriptures and ceremonies, you will realize that all of them teach peace. They mostly advocate eliminating war and maintaining harmony. In other words, all of them hold out a sacred commitment to peace.

It is after the thousands of destructive wars that humans realized the importance of peace. Earth needs peace in order to survive. This applies to every angle including wars, pollution , natural disasters and more.

When peace and harmony are maintained, things will continue to run smoothly without any delay. Moreover, it can be a saviour for many who do not wish to engage in any disrupting activities or more.

In other words, while war destroys and disrupts, peace builds and strengthens as well as restores. Moreover, peace is personal which helps us achieve security and tranquillity and avoid anxiety and chaos to make our lives better.

How to Maintain Peace

There are many ways in which we can maintain peace at different levels. To begin with humankind, it is essential to maintain equality, security and justice to maintain the political order of any nation.

Further, we must promote the advancement of technology and science which will ultimately benefit all of humankind and maintain the welfare of people. In addition, introducing a global economic system will help eliminate divergence, mistrust and regional imbalance.

It is also essential to encourage ethics that promote ecological prosperity and incorporate solutions to resolve the environmental crisis. This will in turn share success and fulfil the responsibility of individuals to end historical prejudices.

Similarly, we must also adopt a mental and spiritual ideology that embodies a helpful attitude to spread harmony. We must also recognize diversity and integration for expressing emotion to enhance our friendship with everyone from different cultures.

Finally, it must be everyone’s noble mission to promote peace by expressing its contribution to the long-lasting well-being factor of everyone’s lives. Thus, we must all try our level best to maintain peace and harmony.

Get the huge list of more than 500 Essay Topics and Ideas

Conclusion of the Essay on Peace

To sum it up, peace is essential to control the evils which damage our society. It is obvious that we will keep facing crises on many levels but we can manage them better with the help of peace. Moreover, peace is vital for humankind to survive and strive for a better future.

FAQ of Essay on Peace

Question 1: What is the importance of peace?

Answer 1: Peace is the way that helps us prevent inequity and violence. It is no less than a golden ticket to enter a new and bright future for mankind. Moreover, everyone plays an essential role in this so that everybody can get a more equal and peaceful world.

Question 2: What exactly is peace?

Answer 2: Peace is a concept of societal friendship and harmony in which there is no hostility and violence. In social terms, we use it commonly to refer to a lack of conflict, such as war. Thus, it is freedom from fear of violence between individuals or groups.

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December 2, 2021

Peace Is More Than War’s Absence, and New Research Explains How to Build It

A new project measures ways to promote positive social relations among groups

By Peter T. Coleman , Allegra Chen-Carrel & Vincent Hans Michael Stueber

PeopleImages/Getty Images

Today, the misery of war is all too striking in places such as Syria, Yemen, Tigray, Myanmar and Ukraine. It can come as a surprise to learn that there are scores of sustainably peaceful societies around the world, ranging from indigenous people in the Xingu River Basin in Brazil to countries in the European Union. Learning from these societies, and identifying key drivers of harmony, is a vital process that can help promote world peace.

Unfortunately, our current ability to find these peaceful mechanisms is woefully inadequate. The Global Peace Index (GPI) and its complement the Positive Peace Index (PPI) rank 163 nations annually and are currently the leading measures of peacefulness. The GPI, launched in 2007 by the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP), was designed to measure negative peace , or the absence of violence, destructive conflict, and war. But peace is more than not fighting. The PPI, launched in 2009, was supposed to recognize this and track positive peace , or the promotion of peacefulness through positive interactions like civility, cooperation and care.

Yet the PPI still has many serious drawbacks. To begin with, it continues to emphasize negative peace, despite its name. The components of the PPI were selected and are weighted based on existing national indicators that showed the “strongest correlation with the GPI,” suggesting they are in effect mostly an extension of the GPI. For example, the PPI currently includes measures of factors such as group grievances, dissemination of false information, hostility to foreigners, and bribes.

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The index also lacks an empirical understanding of positive peace. The PPI report claims that it focuses on “positive aspects that create the conditions for a society to flourish.” However, there is little indication of how these aspects were derived (other than their relationships with the GPI). For example, access to the internet is currently a heavily weighted indicator in the PPI. But peace existed long before the internet, so is the number of people who can go online really a valid measure of harmony?

The PPI has a strong probusiness bias, too. Its 2021 report posits that positive peace “is a cross-cutting facilitator of progress, making it easier for businesses to sell.” A prior analysis of the PPI found that almost half the indicators were directly related to the idea of a “Peace Industry,” with less of a focus on factors found to be central to positive peace such as gender inclusiveness, equity and harmony between identity groups.

A big problem is that the index is limited to a top-down, national-level approach. The PPI’s reliance on national-level metrics masks critical differences in community-level peacefulness within nations, and these provide a much more nuanced picture of societal peace . Aggregating peace data at the national level, such as focusing on overall levels of inequality rather than on disparities along specific group divides, can hide negative repercussions of the status quo for minority communities.

To fix these deficiencies, we and our colleagues have been developing an alternative approach under the umbrella of the Sustaining Peace Project . Our effort has various components , and these can provide a way to solve the problems in the current indices. Here are some of the elements:

Evidence-based factors that measure positive and negative peace. The peace project began with a comprehensive review of the empirical studies on peaceful societies, which resulted in identifying 72 variables associated with sustaining peace. Next, we conducted an analysis of ethnographic and case study data comparing “peace systems,” or clusters of societies that maintain peace with one another, with nonpeace systems. This allowed us to identify and measure a set of eight core drivers of peace. These include the prevalence of an overarching social identity among neighboring groups and societies; their interconnections such as through trade or intermarriage; the degree to which they are interdependent upon one another in terms of ecological, economic or security concerns; the extent to which their norms and core values support peace or war; the role that rituals, symbols and ceremonies play in either uniting or dividing societies; the degree to which superordinate institutions exist that span neighboring communities; whether intergroup mechanisms for conflict management and resolution exist; and the presence of political leadership for peace versus war.

A core theory of sustaining peace . We have also worked with a broad group of peace, conflict and sustainability scholars to conceptualize how these many variables operate as a complex system by mapping their relationships in a causal loop diagram and then mathematically modeling their core dynamics This has allowed us to gain a comprehensive understanding of how different constellations of factors can combine to affect the probabilities of sustaining peace.

Bottom-up and top-down assessments . Currently, the Sustaining Peace Project is applying techniques such as natural language processing and machine learning to study markers of peace and conflict speech in the news media. Our preliminary research suggests that linguistic features may be able to distinguish between more and less peaceful societies. These methods offer the potential for new metrics that can be used for more granular analyses than national surveys.

We have also been working with local researchers from peaceful societies to conduct interviews and focus groups to better understand the in situ dynamics they believe contribute to sustaining peace in their communities. For example in Mauritius , a highly multiethnic society that is today one of the most peaceful nations in Africa, we learned of the particular importance of factors like formally addressing legacies of slavery and indentured servitude, taboos against proselytizing outsiders about one’s religion, and conscious efforts by journalists to avoid divisive and inflammatory language in their reporting.

Today, global indices drive funding and program decisions that impact countless lives, making it critical to accurately measure what contributes to socially just, safe and thriving societies. These indices are widely reported in news outlets around the globe, and heads of state often reference them for their own purposes. For example, in 2017 , Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez, though he and his country were mired in corruption allegations, referenced his country’s positive increase on the GPI by stating, “Receiving such high praise from an institute that once named this country the most violent in the world is extremely significant.” Although a 2019 report on funding for peace-related projects shows an encouraging shift towards supporting positive peace and building resilient societies, many of these projects are really more about preventing harm, such as grants for bolstering national security and enhancing the rule of law.

The Sustaining Peace Project, in contrast, includes metrics for both positive and negative peace, is enhanced by local community expertise, and is conceptually coherent and based on empirical findings. It encourages policy makers and researchers to refocus attention and resources on initiatives that actually promote harmony, social health and positive reciprocity between groups. It moves away from indices that rank entire countries and instead focuses on identifying factors that, through their interaction, bolster or reduce the likelihood of sustaining peace. It is a holistic perspective.  

Tracking peacefulness across the globe is a highly challenging endeavor. But there is great potential in cooperation between peaceful communities, researchers and policy makers to produce better methods and metrics. Measuring peace is simply too important to get only half-right. 

Why is Peace Important: Unlocking the Key to Global Harmony

By: Author Paul Jenkins

Posted on Published: July 3, 2023  - Last updated: July 5, 2023

Categories Society

The importance of peace in our world cannot be overstated. It serves as a foundation for social stability, human rights, and the well-being of individuals and communities across the globe. By fostering a culture of peace, we can create an environment where everyone has the opportunity to prosper and live fulfilling lives.

Understanding the critical role of peace in global society can help us recognize its immense value and motivate us to work towards creating a more harmonious world. Peaceful societies ensure their citizens’ safety and security and create a fertile ground for economic development, education, and cultural growth. By promoting dialogue, diplomacy, and understanding among nations and within communities, we can strengthen the bonds that hold us together and reduce the chances of conflict arising in the first place.

Key Takeaways

• Peace is vital for the well-being and growth of individuals, communities, and nations.
• A peaceful environment fosters social stability, human rights, and economic development.
• Diplomacy and understanding are crucial tools in the pursuit of harmony and peace globally.

The Role of Peace in Social Stability

Preventing conflicts.

Peace plays a crucial role in maintaining social stability by preventing conflicts. When societies prioritize peace, they actively attempt to address the root causes of conflicts, such as unequal resource distribution or ethnic tensions. Addressing these issues can create an environment that fosters mutual understanding and discourages violence.

For example, peacebuilding efforts can promote dialogue between groups with differing perspectives, fostering a shared responsibility for resolving conflicts. When individuals feel heard and respected, they are more likely to engage in constructive communication instead of resorting to violence.

Facilitating Economic Progress

Another important aspect of peace for social stability is its ability to facilitate economic progress. In times of peace, your society can focus on critical areas like infrastructure development, education, and healthcare. As a result, your country becomes more prosperous and provides better opportunities for everyone.

In a peaceful environment, businesses can thrive, and people can invest in their future without fear of losing their assets to violence or unrest. This fosters innovation, creates jobs, and ultimately raises the overall standard of living. By emphasizing the importance of peace, you can help usher in economic progress and social stability for future generations.

Peace and Human Rights

Protection of civilians.

Peace plays a crucial role in safeguarding the lives and well-being of civilians. In a peaceful environment, you are less likely to face threats of violence, and your fundamental human rights can be better protected. For example, during times of peace, governments, and societies can dedicate more resources and attention to establishing respect for the rule of law , which is instrumental in achieving long-term stability and securing the effective protection of human rights.

Moreover, peaceful societies provide a safe space to pursue your aspirations, practice your beliefs and express your opinions without fearing violence or persecution.

Promotion of Equality

Peace also prioritizes promoting equality by providing opportunities for all individuals to live without discrimination. Establishing and maintaining peace create a conducive environment for addressing societal inequalities and fostering social harmony. As a result, you benefit from a more inclusive and just society where your rights and needs are acknowledged and respected.

For example, peacebuilding efforts often emphasize the human rights dimensions in their initiatives, which encourages member states to recognize and address the human rights issues underlying conflicts. Consequently, your right to equality and non-discrimination can be better protected and promoted in a peaceful society.

Psychological Benefits of Peace

Improved mental health.

Experiencing peace in your life can significantly impact your mental health. Peaceful environments positively contribute to a more stable emotional state, allowing you to think more clearly and make better decisions. When surrounded by peace, managing stress, anxiety, and other negative emotions is easier. You can boost your immune system and overall emotional well-being by cultivating inner peace.

There are many simple ways you could improve your mental health by embracing peace:

• Practice mindfulness meditation
• Engage in regular exercise
• Connect with nature
• Cultivate positive relationships

Reduced Rates of Crime and Violence

Peaceful societies typically report lower rates of crime and violence. Reducing conflict and hostility creates a safer environment where people can thrive. This fosters a sense of community, trust, and collaboration among individuals.

As you live in a less violent community, you benefit directly from reduced crime rates. You’ll likely feel safer, more secure, and more connected to your neighbors. This promotes social cohesion, which is vital for overall well-being.

In conclusion, promoting peace in your life and in society offers numerous psychological benefits. Fostering improved mental health and reducing the rates of crime and violence will lead to a more fulfilling, happier life.

The Global Impact of Peace

Encouraging cultural exchange.

Achieving peace plays a significant role in promoting cultural exchange. When conflicts and wars subside, you can learn from other cultures and appreciate their customs and traditions. As a result, global understanding and respect for different cultures can improve proliferating conflicts . Harmony between nations and communities paves the way for intercultural cooperation, leading to advancements in various sectors, including arts, science, and education.

Sustainable Resource Management

Peaceful nations have better chances of ensuring sustainable resource management. Conflicts often lead to economic difficulties and lack of food and water , which pose significant challenges to the sustainable development of a region. Without war, you have better opportunities to focus on resource management, conservation, and fair distribution. A stable environment crucially assists you in implementing proactive measures that promote long-term sustainability and resilience against potential future crises. Peace can help you develop more sustainable approaches for your population, economy, and natural resources.

Pathways to Achieving Peace

Education and awareness.

To achieve peace, one of the critical steps you can take is through education and awareness. By equipping individuals with knowledge about different cultures, religions, and perspectives, you foster an environment of tolerance and understanding 1 . Also, promoting education about conflict resolution and communication can help address issues before they escalate into violence.

As a society, investing in educational programs that teach empathy and compassion is essential. This can be achieved through extracurricular activities, workshops, or subjects integrated into the curriculum. Additionally, raising awareness of the importance of peace and its benefits can assist in changing the societal mindset and creating a more peaceful world 2 .

International Cooperation

Another crucial element in the pursuit of peace is international cooperation. By working together, countries can address global issues contributing to conflicts, such as poverty, inequality, and climate change 3 . Collaborative efforts towards a common goal can help build trust and understanding among nations.

Forming international alliances and partnerships can also play a significant role in maintaining global peace. These can take shape through diplomatic relations and joint efforts in addressing conflicts and crises 4 . Encouraging dialogue and negotiation to resolve disputes peacefully can contribute to stability.

By focusing on education and awareness and fostering international cooperation, societies can pave the way for a more peaceful world. As individuals, it’s essential to recognize the role you can play in this pursuit and take the necessary steps to promote and maintain peace in your daily life.

Importance of Peace and How to Achieve It ↩

The Importance of Peace – Positive Peace ↩

Why is World Peace Important – Change Care Foundation ↩

Identifying Pathways to Peace ↩

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is peace important for society.

Peace is essential for a thriving society, fostering trust, cooperation, and stability. You can focus on improving your well-being and pursuing opportunities in a peaceful environment. A well-functioning government is one example of how peace contributes to social progress. Low levels of corruption, equitable distribution of resources, and acceptance of the rights of others also demonstrate the importance of peace in society.

How does peace contribute to development?

Peace contributes to development by creating a favorable investment, infrastructure, and innovation environment. It also promotes education and human capital , which are crucial elements for societal progress. In peaceful conditions, resources can be allocated toward achieving sustainable development goals to create more prosperous and resilient societies.

What role does peace play in our daily lives?

Peace plays a vital role in your daily life by providing a safe environment to work, learn, and interact with others. It reduces stress and anxiety and allows you to concentrate on personal growth and the well-being of your loved ones. Peace also encourages community harmony, promoting goodwill and understanding among diverse groups.

Why is peace crucial for the community’s well-being?

Peace is crucial for a community’s well-being because it enables individuals to live in a safe, supportive environment that fosters social connections, economic development, and shared understanding. Good relationships with neighbors and cooperation among community members contribute to collective well-being, creating social cohesion and minimizing tensions.

How does peace promote growth?

Peace promotes growth by providing a stable environment where businesses can thrive, individuals can pursue education and skill development, and communities can build strong social networks. A strong business environment combined with adequate human capital increases productivity, innovation, economic expansion, and social improvement.

Why is peace significant for maintaining stability?

Peace is significant for maintaining stability because it minimizes the risk of violence, civil unrest, and international conflicts. Governments can concentrate on addressing societal needs and promoting development when peace prevails. Stability creates a foundation for progressive policymaking and supports a balanced distribution of resources, reducing inequalities and tensions within and between nations.

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Why peace is more important than ever

Peace, security, a future: basic needs that people in the midst of violent conflict desperately want and seek. However, building back trust, livelihoods, institutions and relationships is a complex and long-term endeavours, full of steps forward and back. This is the task of peacebuilding. And we can’t afford not to do it. Here are just three reasons why peacebuilding matters today.

December 2015

Peace, security, a future: basic needs that people in the midst of violent conflict desperately want and seek. However, building back trust, livelihoods, institutions and relationships is a complex and long-term endeavours, full of steps forward and back. This is the task of peacebuilding. And we can’t afford not to do it.

Here are just three reasons why peacebuilding matters today:

1. Because the effects of conflict are far reaching

The majority of those risking their lives trying to reach Europe are from Syria, Afghanistan, Somalia and other areas beset by violent conflict, insecurity or political repression. While we can and should respond generously to their immediate plight, a strategic peacebuilding response looks at what can be done ‘at source’. It takes concerted efforts over the medium to long-term to help people confront and tackle the root causes and drivers of conflicts and their legacies.

2. Because military answers alone to political problems don’t work

At the heart of many violent conflicts lie issues of inequality, injustice and exclusion. While criminality can feed on and into a conflict, there are often genuine and unaddressed grievances at play, which are expressed in violence. Military power may be deployed to prevent or defend against an immediate threat, but it cannot resolve underlying political, social and economic problems and sustain peace. In fact it can sometimes complicate that task.

3. Because conflict shatters lives and stunts development

More than 1.5 billion people live in countries affected by violent conflict. 59.5 million are currently forcibly displaced worldwide, 19.5 million of them refugees, of which half are children. No low-income conflict-affected country has achieved a single one of the UN Millennium Development Goals which expire this autumn. Peacebuilding approaches, including mediation and diplomacy, dialogue and participation, are an essential part of the toolkit we need to meet Goal 16 of the new UN Sustainable Development Goals, to ‘promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development’. 

This article was originally published on Devex. Read the full version here. 

Making Peace

• Posted December 23, 2015
• By Leah Shafer

As 2015 draws to a close, we hope for a new year where cooperation and empathy supersede violence and suspicion. For our final article this year, Usable Knowledge asks: Can education foster a more peaceful world?

According to Silvia Diazgranados Ferráns , an instructor and doctoral candidate at the Harvard Graduate School of Education , it can. Her research on peace education reveals a complex field that seeks to help schools build communities that foster peacemaking and citizenship — to encourage students to become empathetic, inclusive, critical thinkers who have the skills to live peaceful lives.

The Goals of Peace Education

The goals of peace education vary widely across the world. In developing countries, where there is no specific enemy or conflict but a general lack of human rights, peace education seeks to elucidate sources of inequality to promote a more equitable, stable future. In areas of intractable conflict between specific groups, as in Israel and the Palestinian territories, peace education seeks to promote alternate narratives of the conflict to encourage mutual understanding, respect, and collaboration.

In areas where there is no active conflict or violation of human rights, peace education seeks to promote individual skills that reject the use violence and create stronger communities.

Peace Education in Action

For U.S. educators, a successful peace education program focuses on helping children develop the skills they’ll need to get along with others, solve conflicts in nonviolent ways, contribute positively to their communities, respect intergroup differences, and value diversity. Young children need to learn and practice these skills in relationship to their peers, teachers, and family members, Diazgranados Ferráns says. As they grow older, children need opportunities to practice these skills in the context of their broader community and to reflect on their potential global impact.

Diazgranados Ferráns notes that peace education lessons will only take root if peace education is a schoolwide effort that goes beyond a particular subject, embodied by every adult in the building and demonstrated throughout the school day. She outlines several ways that teachers and school leaders can incorporate peace education into their work, teaching students how to be empathetic, responsible, and active learners and leaders:

Model kindness and empathy Teachers, principals, and staff throughout the building can model how to love and care for others through their interactions among each other and with students. Adults should get to know students individually, appreciating the unique strengths and needs of each student and member of the school community.

Repair, don’t punish When students commit an offense, use models of restorative justice to help them understand the effects of their actions and how they can repair any damage done. Instead of punishing or excluding offenders, facilitate conversations on what would need to happen to restore balance in the community. The end goal is for children to understand the impact of their actions and to learn to take responsibility for them.

Create a democratic space Involve student voices in establishing and revising school and class norms. Create classrooms where children are encouraged to share their ideas. Share power with students and give them the space to question authority. Great injustices, inequalities, and atrocities take place when people either are uncritical of authority or aren’t given the appropriate space and courage to question and resist it, says Diazgranados Ferráns.

Give a voice to the excluded On a micro level, this means encouraging students who are commonly excluded to speak up in class. On a macro level, this means incorporating into lessons the narratives of people who have been historically discriminated against or excluded. Have students think critically about why the knowledge and experiences of some groups of people are privileged over the knowledge and experiences of others.

Encourage collaboration in diverse groups Emphasize collaboration and teamwork and deemphasize competition and self-interests. Structure long-term projects that allow children from different social or ethnic groups to work together toward a common goal. Opportunities in which children get to know one another as individuals, says Diazgranados Ferráns, “may help break prejudices and establish caring relationships among members of different groups.”

Discuss controversial issues Facilitate discussions about divisive civic and ethical issues for children of all ages. These debates teach students not only about viewpoints different from their own, but also that it’s okay to disagree with authority figures and peers as long as it’s done respectfully and in a safe environment.

Integrate service learning With younger students, this can mean identifying and solving problems within their classroom. With older students, it can mean creating service projects that help their school, community, or people across world. “Children need to practice, from very, very early on, how to take action, to solve the problems in their community, to have a positive effect,” says Diazgranados Ferráns. “They don’t need to wait until they grow up to change the world.”

Additional Resources

• Read more about Diazgranados Ferráns’ research .

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World Peace Essay: Prompts, How-to Guide, & 200+ Topics

Throughout history, people have dreamed of a world without violence, where harmony and justice reign. This dream of world peace has inspired poets, philosophers, and politicians for centuries. But is it possible to achieve peace globally? Writing a world peace essay will help you find the answer to this question and learn more about the topic.

In this article, our custom writing team will discuss how to write an essay on world peace quickly and effectively. To inspire you even more, we have prepared writing prompts and topics that can come in handy.

• ✍️ Writing Guide
• 🦄 Essay Prompts
• ✔️ World Peace Topics
• 🌎 Pacifism Topics
• ✌️ Catchy Essay Titles
• 🕊️ Research Topics on Peace
• 💡 War and Peace Topics
• ☮️ Peace Title Ideas
• 🌐 Peace Language Topics

🔗 References

✍️ how to achieve world peace essay writing guide.

Stuck with your essay about peace? Here is a step-by-step writing guide with many valuable tips to make your paper well-structured and compelling.

1. Research the Topic

The first step in writing your essay on peace is conducting research. You can look for relevant sources in your university library, encyclopedias, dictionaries, book catalogs, periodical databases, and Internet search engines. Besides, you can use your lecture notes and textbooks for additional information.

Among the variety of sources that could be helpful for a world peace essay, we would especially recommend checking the Global Peace Index report . It presents the most comprehensive data-driven analysis of current trends in world peace. It’s a credible report by the Institute for Economics and Peace, so you can cite it as a source in your aper.

Here are some other helpful resources where you can find information for your world peace essay:

• United Nations Peacekeeping
• International Peace Institute
• United States Institute of Peace
• European Union Institute for Security Studies
• Stockholm International Peace Research Institute

2. Create an Outline

Outlining is an essential aspect of the essay writing process. It helps you plan how you will connect all the facts to support your thesis statement.

To write an outline for your essay about peace, follow these steps:

• Determine your topic and develop a thesis statement .
• Choose the main points that will support your thesis and will be covered in your paper.
• Organize your ideas in a logical order.
• Think about transitions between paragraphs.

Here is an outline example for a “How to Achieve World Peace” essay. Check it out to get a better idea of how to structure your paper.

• Definition of world peace.
• The importance of global peace.
• Thesis statement: World peace is attainable through combined efforts on individual, societal, and global levels.
• Practive of non-violent communication.
• Development of healthy relationships.
• Promotion of conflict resolution skills.
• Promotion of democracy and human rights.
• Support of peacebuilding initiatives.
• Protection of cultural diversity.
• Encouragement of arms control and non-proliferation.
• Promotion of international law and treaties.
• Support of intercultural dialogue and understanding.
• Restated thesis.
• Call to action.

You can also use our free essay outline generator to structure your world peace essay.

3. Write Your World Peace Essay

Now, it’s time to use your outline to write an A+ paper. Here’s how to do it:

• Start with the introductory paragraph , which states the topic, presents a thesis, and provides a roadmap for your essay. If you need some assistance with this part, try our free introduction generator .
• Your essay’s main body should contain at least 3 paragraphs. Each of them should provide explanations and evidence to develop your argument.
• Finally, in your conclusion , you need to restate your thesis and summarize the points you’ve covered in the paper. It’s also a good idea to add a closing sentence reflecting on your topic’s significance or encouraging your audience to take action. Feel free to use our essay conclusion generator to develop a strong ending for your paper.

4. Revise and Proofread

Proofreading is a way to ensure your essay has no typos and grammar mistakes. Here are practical tips for revising your work:

• Take some time. Leaving your essay for a day or two before revision will give you a chance to look at it from another angle.
• Read out loud. To catch run-on sentences or unclear ideas in your writing, read it slowly and out loud. You can also use our Read My Essay to Me tool.
• Make a checklist . Create a list for proofreading to ensure you do not miss any important details, including structure, punctuation, capitalization, and formatting.
• Ask someone for feedback. It is always a good idea to ask your professor, classmate, or friend to read your essay and give you constructive criticism on the work.
• Note down the mistakes you usually make. By identifying your weaknesses, you can work on them to become a more confident writer.

🦄 World Peace Essay Writing Prompts

Looking for an interesting idea for your world peace essay? Look no further! Use our writing prompts to get a dose of inspiration.

How to Promote Peace in the Community Essay Prompt

Promoting peace in the world always starts in small communities. If people fight toxic narratives, negative stereotypes, and hate crimes, they will build a strong and united community and set a positive example for others.

In your essay on how to promote peace in the community, you can dwell on the following ideas:

• Explain the importance of accepting different opinions in establishing peace in your area.
• Analyze how fighting extremism in all its forms can unite the community and create a peaceful environment.
• Clarify what peace means in the context of your community and what factors contribute to or hinder it.
• Investigate the role of dialogue in resolving conflicts and building mutual understanding in the community.

How to Promote Peace as a Student Essay Prompt

Students, as an active part of society, can play a crucial role in promoting peace at various levels. From educational entities to worldwide conferences, they have an opportunity to introduce the idea of peace for different groups of people.

Check out the following fresh ideas for your essay on how to promote peace as a student:

• Analyze how information campaigns organized by students can raise awareness of peace-related issues.
• Discuss the impact of education in fostering a culture of peace.
• Explore how students can use social media to advocate for a peaceful world.
• Describe your own experience of taking part in peace-promoting campaigns or programs.

How Can We Maintain Peace in Our Society Essay Prompt

Maintaining peace in society is a difficult but achievable task that requires constant attention and effort from all members of society.

We have prepared ideas that can come in handy when writing an essay about how we can maintain peace in our society:

• Investigate the role of tolerance, understanding of different cultures, and respect for religions in promoting peace in society.
• Analyze the importance of peacekeeping organizations.
• Provide real-life examples of how people promote peace.
• Offer practical suggestions for how individuals and communities can work together to maintain peace.

Youth Creating a Peaceful Future Essay Prompt

Young people are the future of any country, as well as the driving force to create a more peaceful world. Their energy and motivation can aid in finding new methods of coping with global hate and violence.

In your essay, you can use the following ideas to show the role of youth in creating a peaceful world:

• Analyze the key benefits of youth involvement in peacekeeping.
• Explain why young people are leading tomorrow’s change today.
• Identify the main ingredients for building a peaceful generation with the help of young people’s initiatives.
• Investigate how adolescent girls can be significant agents of positive change in their communities.

Is World Peace Possible Essay Prompt

Whether or not the world can be a peaceful place is one of the most controversial topics. While most people who hear the question “Is a world without war possible?” will probably answer “no,” others still believe in the goodness of humanity.

To discuss in your essay if world peace is possible, use the following ideas:

• Explain how trade, communication, and technology can promote cooperation and the peaceful resolution of conflicts.
• Analyze the role of international organizations like the United Nations and the European Union in maintaining peace in the world.
• Investigate how economic inequality poses a severe threat to peace and safety.
• Dwell on the key individual and national interests that can lead to conflict and competition between countries.

✔️ World Peace Topics for Essays

To help get you started with writing, here’s a list of 200 topics you can use for your future essTo help get you started with writing a world peace essay, we’ve prepared a list of topics you can use:

• Defining peace
• Why peace is better: benefits of living in harmony
• Is world peace attainable? Theory and historical examples
• Sustainable peace: is peace an intermission of war?
• Peaceful coexistence: how a society can do without wars
• Peaceful harmony or war of all against all: what came first?
• The relationship between economic development and peace
• Peace and Human Nature: Can Humans Live without Conflicts ?
• Prerequisites for peace : what nations need to refrain from war?
• Peace as an unnatural phenomenon: why people tend to start a war?
• Peace as a natural phenomenon: why people avoid starting a war?
• Is peace the end of the war or its beginning?
• Hybrid war and hybrid peace
• What constitutes peace in the modern world
• Does two countries’ not attacking each other constitute peace?
• “Cold peace” in the international relations today
• What world religions say about world peace
• Defining peacemaking
• Internationally recognized symbols of peace
• World peace: a dream or a goal?

🌎 Peace Essay Topics on Pacifism

• History of pacifism: how the movement started and developed
• Role of the pacifist movement in the twentieth-century history
• Basic philosophical principles of pacifism
• Pacifism as philosophy and as a movement
• The peace sign: what it means
• How the pacifist movement began: actual causes
• The anti-war movements: what did the activists want?
• The relationship between pacifism and the sexual revolution
• Early pacifism: examples from ancient times
• Is pacifism a religion?
• Should pacifists refrain from any kinds of violence?
• Is the pacifist movement a threat to the national security?
• Can a pacifist work in law enforcement authorities?
• Pacifism and non-violence: comparing and contrasting
• The pacifist perspective on the concept of self-defense
• Pacifism in art: examples of pacifistic works of art
• Should everyone be a pacifist?
• Pacifism and diet: should every pacifist be a vegetarian ?
• How pacifists respond to oppression
• The benefits of an active pacifist movement for a country

✌️ Interesting Essay Titles about Peace

• Can the country that won a war occupy the one that lost?
• The essential peace treaties in history
• Should a country that lost a war pay reparations?
• Peace treaties that caused new, more violent wars
• Can an aggressor country be deprived of the right to have an army after losing a war?
• Non-aggression pacts do not prevent wars
• All the countries should sign non-aggression pacts with one another
• Peace and truces: differences and similarities
• Do countries pursue world peace when signing peace treaties?
• The treaty of Versailles: positive and negative outcomes
• Ceasefires and surrenders: the world peace perspective
• When can a country break a peace treaty?
• Dealing with refugees and prisoners of war under peace treaties
• Who should resolve international conflicts?
• The role of the United Nations in enforcing peace treaties
• Truce envoys’ immunities
• What does a country do after surrendering unconditionally?
• A separate peace: the ethical perspective
• Can a peace treaty be signed in modern-day hybrid wars?
• Conditions that are unacceptable in a peace treaty

🕊️ Research Topics on Peace and Conflict Resolution

• Can people be forced to stop fighting?
• Successful examples of peace restoration through the use of force
• Failed attempts to restore peace with legitimate violence
• Conflict resolution vs conflict transformation
• What powers peacemakers should not have
• Preemptive peacemaking: can violence be used to prevent more abuse?
• The status of peacemakers in the international law
• Peacemaking techniques: Gandhi’s strategies
• How third parties can reconcile belligerents
• The role of the pacifist movement in peacemaking
• The war on wars: appropriate and inappropriate approaches to peacemaking
• Mistakes that peacemakers often stumble upon
• The extent of peacemaking : when the peacemakers’ job is done
• Making peace and sustaining it: how peacemakers prevent future conflicts
• The origins of peacemaking
• What to do if peacemaking does not work
• Staying out: can peacemaking make things worse?
• A personal reflection on the effectiveness of peacemaking
• Prospects of peacemaking
• Personal experience of peacemaking

💡 War and Peace Essay Topics

• Counties should stop producing new types of firearms
• Countries should not stop producing new types of weapons
• Mutual assured destruction as a means of sustaining peace
• The role of nuclear disarmament in world peace
• The nuclear war scenario: what will happen to the world?
• Does military intelligence contribute to sustaining peace?
• Collateral damage: analyzing the term
• Can the defenders of peace take up arms?
• For an armed person, is killing another armed person radically different from killing an unarmed one? Ethical and legal perspectives
• Should a healthy country have a strong army?
• Firearms should be banned
• Every citizen has the right to carry firearms
• The correlation between gun control and violence rates
• The second amendment: modern analysis
• Guns do not kill: people do
• What weapons a civilian should never be able to buy
• Biological and chemical weapons
• Words as a weapon: rhetoric wars
• Can a pacifist ever use a weapon?
• Can dropping weapons stop the war?

☮️ Peace Title Ideas for Essays

• How the nuclear disarmament emblem became the peace sign
• The symbolism of a dove with an olive branch
• Native Americans’ traditions of peace declaration
• The mushroom cloud as a cultural symbol
• What the world peace awareness ribbon should look like
• What I would like to be the international peace sign
• The history of the International Day of Peace
• The peace sign as an accessory
• The most famous peace demonstrations
• Hippies’ contributions to the peace symbolism
• Anti-war and anti-military symbols
• How to express pacifism as a political position
• The rainbow as a symbol of peace
• Can a white flag be considered a symbol of peace?
• Examples of the inappropriate use of the peace sign
• The historical connection between the peace sign and the cannabis leaf sign
• Peace symbols in different cultures
• Gods of war and gods of peace: examples from the ancient mythology
• Peace sign tattoo: pros and cons
• Should the peace sign be placed on a national flag?

🌐 Essay Topics about Peace Language

• The origin and historical context of the word “peace”
• What words foreign languages use to denote “peace”
• What words, if any, should a pacifist avoid?
• The pacifist discourse: key themes
• Disintegration language: “us” vs “them”
• How to combat war propaganda
• Does political correctness promote world peace?
• Can an advocate of peace be harsh in his or her speeches?
• Effective persuasive techniques in peace communications and negotiations
• Analyzing the term “world peace”
• If the word “war” is forbidden, will wars stop?
• Is “peacemaking” a right term?
• Talk to the hand: effective and ineffective interpersonal communication techniques that prevent conflicts
• The many meanings of the word “peace”
• The pacifists’ language: when pacifists swear, yell, or insult
• Stressing similarities instead of differences as a tool of peace language
• The portrayal of pacifists in movies
• The portrayals of pacifists in fiction
• Pacifist lyrics: examples from the s’ music
• Poems that supported peace The power of the written word
• Peaceful coexistence: theory and practice
• Under what conditions can humans coexist peacefully?
• “A man is a wolf to another man”: the modern perspective
• What factors prevent people from committing a crime?
• Right for peace vs need for peace
• Does the toughening of punishment reduce crime?
• The Stanford prison experiment: implications
• Is killing natural?
• The possibility of universal love: does disliking always lead to conflicts?
• Basic income and the dynamics of thefts
• Hobbesian Leviathan as the guarantee of peace
• Is state-concentrated legitimate violence an instrument for reducing violence overall?
• Factors that undermine peaceful coexistence
• Living in peace vs living for peace
• The relationship between otherness and peacefulness
• World peace and human nature: the issue of attainability
• The most successful examples of peaceful coexistence
• Lack of peace as lack of communication
• Point made: counterculture and pacifism
• What Woodstock proved to world peace nonbelievers and opponents?
• Woodstock and peaceful coexistence: challenges and successes
• Peace, economics, and quality of life
• Are counties living in peace wealthier? Statistics and reasons
• Profits of peace and profits of war: comparison of benefits and losses
• Can a war improve the economy? Discussing examples
• What is more important for people: having appropriate living conditions or winning a war?
• How wars can improve national economies: the perspective of aggressors and defenders
• Peace obstructers: examples of interest groups that sustained wars and prevented peace
• Can democracies be at war with one another?
• Does the democratic rule in a country provide it with an advantage at war?
• Why wars destroy economies: examples, discussion, and counterarguments
• How world peace would improve everyone’s quality of life
• Peace and war today
• Are we getting closer to world peace? Violence rates, values change, and historical comparison
• The peaceful tomorrow: how conflicts will be resolved in the future if there are no wars
• Redefining war: what specific characteristics today’s wars have that make them different from previous centuries’ wars
• Why wars start today: comparing and contrasting the reasons for wars in the modern world to historical examples
• Subtle wars: how two countries can be at war with each other without having their armies collide in the battlefield
• Cyber peace: how cyberwars can be stopped
• Information as a weapon: how information today lands harder blows than bombs and missiles
• Information wars: how the abundance of information and public access to it have not, nonetheless, eliminated propaganda
• Peace through defeating: how ISIS is different from other states, and how can its violence be stopped
• Is world peace a popular idea? Do modern people mostly want peace or mainly wish to fight against other people and win?
• Personal contributions to world peace
• What can I do for attaining world peace? Personal reflection
• Respect as a means of attaining peace: why respecting people is essential not only on the level of interpersonal communications but also on the level of social good
• Peacefulness as an attitude: how one’s worldview can prevent conflicts
• Why a person engages in insulting and offending: analysis of psychological causes and a personal perspective
• A smile as an agent of peace: how simple smiling to people around you contributes to peacefulness
• Appreciating otherness: how one can learn to value diversity and avoid xenophobia
• Peace and love: how the two are inherently interconnected in everyone’s life
• A micro-level peacemaker: my experiences of resolving conflicts and bringing peace
• Forgiveness for the sake of peace: does forgiving other people contribute to peaceful coexistence or promote further conflicts?
• Noble lies: is it acceptable for a person to lie to avoid conflicts and preserve peace?
• What should a victim do? Violent and non-violent responses to violence
• Standing up for the weak : is it always right to take the side of the weakest?
• Self-defense, overwhelming emotions, and witnessing horrible violence: could I ever shoot another person?
• Are there “fair” wars, and should every war be opposed?
• Protecting peace: could I take up arms to prevent a devastating war?
• Reporting violence: would I participate in sending a criminal to prison?
• The acceptability of violence against perpetrators: personal opinion
• Nonviolent individual resistance to injustice
• Peace is worth it: why I think wars are never justified
• How I sustain peace in my everyday life

Learn more on this topic:

• If I Could Change the World Essay: Examples and Writing Guide
• Ending the Essay: Conclusions
• Choosing and Narrowing a Topic to Write About
• Introduction to Research
• How the U.S. Can Help Humanity Achieve World Peace
• Ten Steps to World Peace
• How World Peace is Possible
• World Peace Books and Articles
• World Peace and Nonviolence
• The Leader of World Peace Essay
• UNO and World Peace Essay
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A very, very good paragraph. thanks

Peace and conflict studies actually is good field because is dealing on how to manage the conflict among the two state or country.

Keep it up. Our world earnestly needs peace

A very, very good paragraph.

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World Peace in One Hour

About the author.

Nenad Bach   is a musician, composer and peace activist.

18 September 2020 Y ou may say I'm a dreamer But I'm not the only one I hope someday you'll join us And the world will be as one                       - John Lennon

Is this just a song or wishful thinking? Are these just words or is it prophecy? Is humanity capable of achieving sustainable, everlasting peace?

I say YES, and the time is NOW.

You can't say that there has been a lack of declarations and resolutions on peace: 1948:  Universal Declaration of Human Rights 1978:  Declaration on the Preparation of Societies for Life in Peace 1984:  Declaration on the Right of Peoples to Peace 1999:  Declaration and Programme of Action on a Culture of Peace 2011:  The Bruxelles Declaration, “Pledge to Peace” 2016:  Annex to Declaration on the Right to Peace 2018:  The Global Resolution for the Establishment of Infrastructures to Support the Culture of Peace  (not a United Nations resolution)

In 1984, the year I arrived in New York, the United Nations General Assembly, by resolution 39/11, adopted the Declaration of the Right of Peoples to Peace, in which United Nations Member States solemnly proclaimed that the peoples of our planet had a sacred right to peace. Let me repeat this: We all have a sacred right to Peace

Too many leaders, no one to follow Too many clouds, not enough rain Too many words and promises, too hard to swallow Too many innocents died in vain                                 -  “I Will Follow You”  by Nenad Bach

Previous efforts to achieve global peace have all been full of good intentions, but they resulted in too many declarations and not enough action. This is a historic moment, and if we do not seize it, maybe we do not deserve to survive. As is the case when launching a rocket to meet the International Space Station in orbit, there is a very small window of opportunity to make world peace happen. Protecting the existence of all species, sustaining life on Earth, exploring outer space, tackling disease and mortality, solving the pollution problem, coexisting with the environment, electing more women to leadership positions and creating real freedom that includes true private property: world peace is a prerequisite for all of these objectives.  This pandemic should open our eyes to the fact that the First World War ended with the Spanish flu pandemic. So why not use the same modality to end all current wars—now. For this project, I do not rely exclusively on intellectuals or artists or politicians or peace activists. We are all in it—from truck drivers to nurses, from presidents of companies to presidents of countries. Whoever understands the plan and the steps needed to be taken is welcome. I just want to communicate the idea to whomever this resonates with, whether that be the Pope, Paul McCartney, Bono, a hot dog vendor on the corner of First Ave. and Houston St., the Nobel Institute, or any essential worker during the COVID-19 pandemic. We are all in it. Easier said than done? Hear me out. In order to achieve global economic stability and sustainable growth, we should take the following steps and anticipate positive outcomes: 1. Military budgets should stay as they are, amounting to  around $2 trillion  globally, or maybe even increase, but... 2. Fifty per cent of new arms production should be rewired/transformed to build infrastructure and support research and development. 3. If the G20 countries do that, the current global power structure and balance will remain the same, because those countries represent  two thirds of the world’s population and 80 per cent of world-wide gross domestic product . 4. Balance equals peace. 5. Mother Earth will get real infrastructure: tunnels between continents, etc. 6. Viruses will be controlled or even better, they will be used as a vehicle for something good. Imagine a virus that spreads knowledge, immunity, long life.  7. We as a species will be able to unlock our true human potential, respecting all living creatures.

Facts: 1. Twitter goes around the world in a second. The number of smartphones and digital cameras in the world now number about 4 billion . Violence can no longer be easily hidden. Technology is on our side. 2. During the twentieth century, it has been estimated that up to  200 million people were killed by war, oppression and other atrocities . There have been just over  1 million deaths due to conflict in the first 20 years of this century . If this trend were to continue over the next 80 years, it would result in an approximately 40-fold decrease in such deaths. 3. The Western Hemisphere has been a war-free zone since the end of the internal conflict in Colombia in 2016. 4.  There are an estimated 110 million active landmines and an equal amount in stockpile .  5. According to the  Stockholm International Peace Research Institute , the estimated nuclear warhead count for the top five countries with the most nuclear weapons in 2020, based on available information, is as follows: Russia, 6,375 United States, 5,800 China, 320  France, 290 United Kingdom, 215

Rough estimates of the cost of building and maintaining these terrible weapons are in the trillions of dollars . Cutting these costs in half would defuse a lot of anxiety and free up cash. And again, the power structure and balance would remain the same.

6. The Abraham Accords between Israel and the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, signed on 15 September 2020, bring us one step closer to world peace in 2021. These are not just words anymore, and the planet is more than ready!

I am actually very impressed by humanity; world leaders paused everyday life on Earth in an effort to save our brothers and sisters from COVID-19. You may be cynical, but almost no one could have predicted this outcome, which proves that the past doesn't equal the future. One day, all the wars will stop permanently. Knowing this, we should capitalize emotionally and unleash unlimited human creativity. A few days ago, I found companies that already exist for mining asteroids. If that is happening now, imagine what a free flow of creativity could produce in the near future.

Pandemics have happened before, but never were we as connected as we are today. Good, bad, but not indifferent, our social media structure should be used not just for sharing what you ate for breakfast this morning, but as a potent vehicle to drive world peace. Yes, it could happen in one hour; if we put the leaders of the G20 countries in one room or on Zoom, and don't give them cookies, it may take only 45 minutes. And yes, I am trying to be funny, but in reality, with the proper preparation, I believe it will happen fairly quickly. In the present state of war, we could dabble in attempts to solve the mysteries of life for the next thousand years, or we could proclaim peace and move forward on all fronts in the next hundred years. You wonder how? Just ask Elon Musk; he’ll produce the plan in two weeks.

“You may say I'm a dreamer/But I'm not the only one/I hope someday...” actually, let that day be 21 September 2021, at United Nations Headquarters in New York: the signing of a world peace declaration. And if you would allow me to dream just a minute longer, two days before, a ping pong tournament could be held in New York between all the presidents, prime ministers and other world leaders at the Javits Convention Center in Manhattan. Ping pong has long been seen as a proven method of diplomacy. And after the signing ceremony, the World Peace in One Hour Orchestra, with all the instruments of the world, will perform “ Everything Is Forever ” and “Stand by Me”, and close with John Lennon’s “ Imagine ”. With our present life span, we cannot travel beyond our solar system, never mind explore the Milky Way. So giddy-up, humanity—there is plenty to be accomplished by the creative class. First stop: the moon; next: Mars; and then the stars, to discover what we are all about and when, how and why it all began. There is no time to waste, and yet, “Time Is All We Have” and “love is all we need”. 

For more information on World Peace in One Hour, visit  https://worldpeaceinonehour.com/history .

Click here for a full audio recording of this article.

The UN Chronicle  is not an official record. It is privileged to host senior United Nations officials as well as distinguished contributors from outside the United Nations system whose views are not necessarily those of the United Nations. Similarly, the boundaries and names shown, and the designations used, in maps or articles do not necessarily imply endorsement or acceptance by the United Nations.

Cultural Diversity in the Digital Age: A Pillar for Sustainable Development

Two important issues affecting the protection and promotion of cultural diversity deserve our attention: the question of discoverability of local and national content, and the impact of generative artificial intelligence (AI).

“Bee Engaged with Youth” to Safeguard Bees and Other Pollinators

As we celebrate World Bee Day on 20 May, let us remember how crucial it is to prioritize efforts to protect bees and other pollinators. FAO is committed to supporting youth, who have a key role to play in fostering the transformative changes and future initiatives and activities needed to save our bees and other pollinators.  

Digital Innovation—Key to Unlocking Sustainable Development 

Digital tools have the potential to accelerate human progress, but those who are not online are most at risk of being left behind.

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Defining the Concept of Peace » Positive & Negative Peace

In this excerpt from our IEP Peace Academy, learn why understanding the different definitions of peace is crucial for peacebuilders.

Learn why understanding the concept of peace from both a negative peace and positive peace perspective is crucial for peacebuilders.

Defining the Concept of Peace: Positive and Negative Peace

There are two common conceptions of peace — Negative Peace, or actual peace, and Positive Peace.

What is Negative Peace?

IEP’s definition of Negative Peace is understood as ‘the absence of violence or fear of violence — an intuitive definition that many agree with, and one which enables us to measure peace more easily.

Measures of Negative Peace are the foundation of the IEP’s flagship product, the Global Peace Index .

However, while the Global Peace Index tells us how peaceful a country is, it doesn’t tell us what or where we should be investing in to strengthen or maintain levels of peace.

This leads us to Positive Peace , derived from the data contained within the Global Peace Index . Positive Peace provides a framework to understand and address the many complex challenges the world faces.

What is Positive Peace?

Positive Peace is defined as the attitudes, institutions and structures that create and sustain peaceful societies.

It provides a framework to understand and then address the multiple and complex challenges the world faces. Positive Peace is transformational in that it is a cross-cutting factor for progress, making it easier for businesses to sell, entrepreneurs and scientists to innovate, individuals to produce, and governments to effectively regulate.

Difference between Negative and Positive Peace

In addition to the absence of violence, Positive Peace is also associated with many other social characteristics that are considered desirable, including better economic outcomes, measures of well-being, levels of inclusiveness and environmental performance.

A parallel can be drawn with medical science; the study of pathology has led to numerous breakthroughs in our understanding of how to treat and cure disease.

However, it was only when medical science turned its focus to the study of healthy human beings that we understood what we needed to do to stay healthy. This could only be learned by studying what was working.

Are you interested in learning more about peace? Sign up for the free, online Positive Peace Academy

Vision of Humanity

Editorial staff.

Vision of Humanity is brought to you by the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP), by staff in our global offices in Sydney, New York, The Hague, Harare and Mexico. Alongside maps and global indices, we present fresh perspectives on current affairs reflecting our editorial philosophy.

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What is Peace? Types, Examples, Learning Opportunities

Pursuing peace is one of the few values we share across cultural, political, and linguistic divides. The challenge, however, comes in understanding what ‘peace’ really means and how we are able to pursue it.

In summary, peace is… the feeling and experience of developing your capacity for maintaining social cohesion, positive interactions, and justice, free from the experience or fear of negative conflict and harm.

This definition merges a number of peace and conflict related concepts. Each of these concepts can help us understand the nuance of peace better. It can show why groups who all say they are seeking peace may come into conflict in doing so. It also shows us how peace can be understood as a feeling, experience, and also an outcome, all at the same time.

5 Different Types of Peace

Going phrase-by-phrase of the above definition, we can explore 5 different types or aspects of peace. Each of these help us understand peace – and by extension global conflicts – better.

#1 Peace as an ongoing process

Peace is the process of   developing your capacity for peace.

Regardless of how stable a given region may appear, the potential for peace to be disrupted is constant. As such, our capacity to protect and maintain peace in the face of conflict is essential, leading to the idea that peace is a process. While peace may never be a destination we arrive at completely, by becoming competent at maintaining peace, a community can consistently reduce the likelihood of violent conflict.

e.g. If a conflict falls along religious lines, the existence of each religion and their differing values will always be present in that society. This has the potential to cause friction and small scale conflict every day. Viewing peace as something we constantly work towards, therefore, would help this society prevent these conflicts from developing and becoming violent.

#2 Positive peace

Peace is the ability to maintain social cohesion and have positive interactions.

Positive peace is the presence of attitudes, institutions, and social structures that are able to sustain peace and reduce harmful conflict. This type of peace is essential, as it acts as the buffer protecting negative peace. Without a strong positive peace, any number of challenges can arise that may produce fear of harm and the experience of harm. Positive peace is a way of putting peace as a process into practice.

e.g. The presence of strong democratic values are a form of positive peace, as they mean that the peaceful transition of power is likely to occur in a society that votes for new leadership.

#3 Structural peace (justice)

Peace is having justice. 

Structural peace is the systemic way that an individual or group’s access to essential needs and freedom from violence are kept equitable. In a society where a particular group has reduced access to social services or individual rights, for instance, their relative structural peace or justice is reduced. They may not experience physical violence directly, but their perceived or experienced lack of justice will result in reduced peace.

e.g., After years of activism, racial tensions in a particular region may have been radically reduced. However, their government may still have active laws that entrench racial discrimination. Until these are dismantled, it can be harder for racialized groups to achieve structural peace. This is can be true even with the public support and a lack of physical violence.

#4 Negative peace

Peace is being free from the experience or fear of negative conflict and harm.

Negative peace refers to the absence of war and violent conflict. This version of peace is commonly cited in public discussions as it is the most obvious when it is missing. However, “violence” in this case is another nuanced word. It is defined by the World Health Organization as the intentional use or threat of force that is able to result in harm (physical, mental, or otherwise) of a person or group of people. This type of violence can be direct (e.g., a physical act of violence). It can be structural (e.g., taking away someone’s access to education and healthcare). Or, it

can be cultural (e.g., acceptance of a racist ideology among a given community). When an act of violence like this occurs, it is clear that the level of peace has been reduced.

e.g. When government security forces consistently use excessive force on the general public, negative peace has been lost.

#5 Peace as a feeling, experience, and outcome

Peace is   a feeling, experience, and an outcome. 

Considering the types of peace discussed above, we can see how peace is simultaneously a feeling, experience, and outcome. Peace can be a feeling if someone feels that their historical mistreatment has not been fully reconciled. Or that the truth of a conflict has not been established. Peace can be an experience when someone cannot fully participate in society, even without experiencing physical violence or threat of harm. Peace can be an outcome if after a period of violent conflict a ceasefire is agreed to and respected. In each case an example of peace has been found, but a more complete peace may not have been achieved.

Understanding that peace can be seen as a feeling as well as an actual experience or destination is important. This difference can explain why a seemingly stable region may actually have deep unrest under the surface. If a population feels they are experiencing a harm or injustice, this must be addressed. When a population is experiencing limited access to social services and freedoms, this must be addressed. If a population has been experiencing violent conflict, this must be addressed.

Examples of Peace Seeking in Political Conflicts

Case study #1: israel-palestine.

A 2020 study on Israelis and Palestinians highlighted differing perceptions of peace between high-power and low-power groups. Jewish-Israelis, seen as high-power, were more likely to view peace as connected to harmonious relationships ( positive peace ), while Palestinians, considered low-power, were more likely prioritize justice ( structural peace ). Both groups agreeing on peace as the absence of war and violence ( negative peace ). However, their view of what long lasting peace would involve also influenced their preferences for conflict resolution methods. It also shaped whether they favoured a Two-State Solution or One-State Solution.

Case Study #2: Bosnia and Herzegovina

A 2009 analysis of post-conflict peacebuilding in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) argues that there had been no reconciliation or restoration of relationships ( positive peace ) in BiH, only the absence of violence ( negative peace ). For this negative peace to turn into positive peace, there needs to be greater contact between the interethnic groups, as well as agreement on the core truths behind the conflict.

How to Understand Peace and Conflict

To understand global conflicts, ask the following questions:

• What versions of peace are being disrupted?
• What kinds of peace is being pursued?
• What kinds of tools or changes could be made to manage the conflict that is disrupting peace?

For example, following the ongoing conflict in Israel-Gaza, what kinds of peace are the populations of each side calling for? Is the focus an immediate ceasefire? Are they looking for institutional reform? Has there been a call for intergroup dialogues and cooperative programs?

To understand how your own experience with conflicts, ask yourself the following questions:

• How is peace understood by those around me? How might I be supporting/disrupting other people’s peace?
• What political values do I hold that might support/disrupt peace in my community?
• How does this definition of peace relate to your lived experience in places like work or school?
• How can you produce peace for those you come into contact with on a day-to-day basis?

Where To Learn More About Peace

Learn more about peace and ways of pursuing peace with these resources:

• Video breakdown of Johan Galtung’s formative work on negative and positive peace
• The Council of Europe’s article on conceptions of peace and violence
• Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies article on how strategic peacebuilding can develop different kinds of peace
• Written article on the different philosophical approaches to understanding peace
• The United States Institute of Peace blog has many breakdowns of ongoing conflicts and how peace is being pursued within them

Peace Importance and War Effects on Countries Essay

Introduction, world war ii, effects or war/lack of peace, importance of peace, works cited.

The emphasis of peaceful interactions among the nations cannot be undermined at any cost. Peace is one of the fundamental factors that influence growth in economic activities, development of political governance, among other important aspects of living. Without peace, many areas of human existence are affected. Peace is the essence of living, and the lack of it can be termed as the opposite of life. When people cannot interact peacefully, there will be chaos and disarray. Therefore peace is supreme in the world, and without it, nothing is achievable. This essay seeks to outline several evidences to prove that peace is the most important thing in the world.

The Second World War was one of the most destructive battles in the world. Its effects especially in Japan are felt up to date. The war broke out form a simple conflict between nations, and it eventually turned into a global conflict. As seen in the picture, American soldiers are kissing and celebrating with their wives their victory against Japan. Looking at the picture, one can clearly see that all the people captured are happy and excited to know that their spouses are back home safe and sound. Peace brings happiness to families and among nations. It took years before Iraq became a fully politically run state (Dumas and Thee 89).

World War II had greatly destabilized Europe, and all that people wanted to be an end to the fighting. This photograph was taken in Times Square on the 14 th of august 1945, and it has been used in many occasions to commemorate the day of peace in America ( History.com par. 2). The conflict between 30 countries including Japan, Germany, the Great Britain, France among others led to a war that lasted for six years and caused millions of deaths both military and civilians ( History.com par 2). Considering such damage, peace is therefore one of the most important things in the world today.

Where there is no peace, there is war. War can be among people from different races, clans, tribes, religion among other profiling strategies. Nonetheless, when war occurs in a particular region or country, the effects are horrible. One of the major effects of war is hunger and starvation. the World War II was greatly influenced by the instability that was created by the first world war which had only ended two decades earlier ( History.com par. 8).Adolf Hitler’s greed for power and his urge to dominate the world led him to rearm his nation. As Germany invaded Poland, the Great Britain and France reacted in protest declaring war against Germany ( History.com par. 8).

This regional conflict ended up in a global and the destruction caused was beyond measure. As Hitler rose to power, he believed that the only way for humans to acquire enough living space was through war ( History.com par. 8). Unfortunately, he was obsessed with the idea of domination and he believed that pure Germans were the only race worth of the living space. Such a mentality can ruin and comprise any efforts to achieve peaceful coexistence among nations.

Peace is a very crucial aspect of human life. Peace allows people to interact in civilized and planned structures which give life a meaning. Through peace, people are able to shear common values and enhance the promotion of common decency through laws and policies (Acharya 45).

Governance and political structures are products of peaceful agreements brokered with the best interests of the people at heart. Peace has enabled the world to come together in many occasion and to work together to fight some of the deadly vices in the world. For instance, the United Nations that was formed as a result of an end to a deadly conflict among nations is a product of peace. It is very important to foster peaceful relations among nations because it allows interaction and through such interactions there are major benefits that may accrue. Peaceful nations for instance trade together and they allow their citizens to trade in better terms of trades.

In every country, peace is the major influence of any positive development. Whether it is political, economic, social or infrastructural success, peace is the key to achieving it. Without peace the world can achieve nothing. According to the evidenced given in this essay, one can evidently connect peace to other areas of growth in a country. For instance, Somalia has been mentioned and clearly one can understand the impacts of peace just by looking at the country’s development and infrastructural growth. Somalia is one of the poorest countries in terms of GDP while its wealth in fuel is one of the bets world’s known.

Therefore, this essay shows that regardless of a country’s natural resources, peace is paramount. Rwanda has also been used in this essay as an example and clear the country’s fertility was compromised the 1994 genocide where conflicting communities were starving in a land of great agricultural potential.

Acharya, Amitav. Constructing a Security Community in Southeast Asia: ASEAN and the Problem of Regional Order: ASEAN and the Problem of Regional Order , New York, NY: Routledge, 2014. Print.

Dumas, Lloyd J., and Marek Thee. Making peace possible: the promise of economic conversion , New York, NY: Elsevier, 2014. Print.

History.com: America Enters World War II . 2009. Web.

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IvyPanda. (2020, August 15). Peace Importance and War Effects on Countries. https://ivypanda.com/essays/peace-importance-and-war-effects-on-countries/

"Peace Importance and War Effects on Countries." IvyPanda , 15 Aug. 2020, ivypanda.com/essays/peace-importance-and-war-effects-on-countries/.

IvyPanda . (2020) 'Peace Importance and War Effects on Countries'. 15 August.

IvyPanda . 2020. "Peace Importance and War Effects on Countries." August 15, 2020. https://ivypanda.com/essays/peace-importance-and-war-effects-on-countries/.

1. IvyPanda . "Peace Importance and War Effects on Countries." August 15, 2020. https://ivypanda.com/essays/peace-importance-and-war-effects-on-countries/.

Bibliography

IvyPanda . "Peace Importance and War Effects on Countries." August 15, 2020. https://ivypanda.com/essays/peace-importance-and-war-effects-on-countries/.

Woodrow Wilson’s 14 Points: Blueprint for Peace

This essay about Woodrow Wilson’s Fourteen Points discusses the principles he proposed for establishing a just and lasting peace after World War I. Delivered to Congress in January 1918, the points emphasized open diplomacy, freedom of navigation, free trade, disarmament, and the resolution of colonial claims. They also focused on self-determination for various nationalities and territorial adjustments. The final point proposed the creation of a League of Nations to ensure global security. The essay examines the mixed reactions to Wilson’s proposals, their impact on the Treaty of Versailles, and their legacy in shaping modern international relations and global governance.

How it works

In the aftermath of World War I, U.S. President Woodrow Wilson proposed a visionary framework for peace and international cooperation known as the Fourteen Points. Delivered in a speech to Congress on January 8, 1918, Wilson’s Fourteen Points outlined his principles for a just and enduring peace settlement. This proposal aimed not only to end the devastating conflict but also to prevent future wars by addressing the root causes of international tensions and promoting collective security.

Wilson’s Fourteen Points were grounded in the ideals of transparency, self-determination, and international cooperation.

The first five points addressed the need for open diplomacy, freedom of navigation, free trade, disarmament, and impartial resolution of colonial claims. These principles were intended to eliminate the secret treaties and alliances that had contributed to the outbreak of World War I, and to establish a foundation for stable and fair international relations.

The middle points, six through thirteen, focused on specific territorial adjustments and the principle of self-determination for various nationalities. Wilson believed that ethnic groups should have the right to determine their own political status and form their own nations. This included the restoration of territories and the establishment of independent states, such as Poland, based on the ethnic composition and desires of the local populations. These points aimed to rectify historical injustices and prevent future conflicts arising from ethnic tensions.

The final and perhaps most significant point was the creation of a League of Nations. Wilson envisioned this international organization as a forum where countries could resolve disputes peacefully and collectively ensure global security. The League was to be based on mutual guarantees of political independence and territorial integrity for all member states, effectively creating a system of collective security. This innovative idea was designed to replace the balance of power politics that had dominated Europe and led to repeated conflicts.

Wilson’s Fourteen Points were received with mixed reactions globally. The Allied powers, while appreciative of American support in the war, were skeptical of some of Wilson’s idealistic proposals. European leaders, particularly from France and Britain, were primarily concerned with punishing Germany and securing reparations for the immense destruction caused by the war. They viewed Wilson’s principles as too lenient and idealistic, given the need for immediate practical solutions to their war-ravaged nations.

Nevertheless, the Fourteen Points had a profound impact on the peace negotiations that followed the war. At the Paris Peace Conference in 1919, Wilson was a key figure, advocating for his vision of a new world order. Although not all of his points were adopted, the Treaty of Versailles incorporated several of his ideas, most notably the establishment of the League of Nations. Despite the eventual failure of the United States to join the League, the concept influenced the creation of future international organizations, including the United Nations.

The legacy of the Fourteen Points extends beyond their immediate impact on post-World War I diplomacy. They represent a shift in the approach to international relations, emphasizing the importance of moral principles and collective action over mere power politics. Wilson’s vision laid the groundwork for contemporary efforts at global governance and the promotion of human rights.

However, the limitations of the Fourteen Points also serve as a reminder of the challenges inherent in implementing idealistic policies in a world driven by national interests and realpolitik. The harsh terms of the Treaty of Versailles, combined with the failure to fully realize Wilson’s vision, contributed to the conditions that eventually led to World War II. This underscores the complex interplay between idealism and practicality in the pursuit of lasting peace.

In conclusion, Woodrow Wilson’s Fourteen Points were a groundbreaking proposal for a new approach to international relations, advocating for transparency, self-determination, and collective security. While their immediate impact was mixed and many of Wilson’s ideas faced resistance, the principles underlying the Fourteen Points have continued to influence global diplomacy and the pursuit of peace. The enduring relevance of Wilson’s vision highlights the ongoing challenge of balancing idealism with practicality in the quest to build a stable and just world order.

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Pacifist feminism

Reflections on Peace Education

Alicia Cabezudo International Association of Educators for Peace

Education for peace and respect for human rights is particularly important in this period, if we compare the values this education promotes with the daily violence, the horrors of war and the gradual destruction of values such as solidarity, cooperation and respect for others: all of them problems that assault us every day.

Indiscriminate persecution, massacres and ethnic cleansing are difficult to explain when our shocked and surprised students ask us about them; perhaps they are even incomprehensible in the context of education. It is harder still to clarify these processes when the possible solution for acts such as these is, in fact, the continued bombing of cities and of a desperate civilian population.

We also come across extreme everyday situations when we analyse the inequality and injustice of our socio-economic surroundings and the brutal violence of our “ideal” modern societies… in which it is the state itself that attacks the population, where individualism and self interest are promoted and where whatever is considered “different” becomes “dangerous”. These are all wars, of a different type, but with the same ingredients of injustice, violence and destruction.

Here the responses of educators become drained of content and their explanations no longer work. The practice of building knowledge through research, reading, the analysis of information, interviews, genesis of conflicts, systematisation of what has been learnt, the development of critical thinking, etc, should lead us to rethink the educational model applied until now. This model is perhaps slightly naive, despite its apparent progressive pedagogical nature, and it is one with which educators ourselves have come to be unhappy.

I believe that Peace Education, although considered a transversal element in many educational curriculum models around the world, has in fact been conceived as a secondary matter. Something necessary but accidental, important but not essential, present but “absent”. A view of the curriculum which dignifies it without modifying it, without designing new alternatives for a humanitarian, ethical, civic education — something increasingly necessary in the world we live in.

Because Peace Education means developing a critical, serious and profound approach to the current situation of which we form a part and the historical epoch in which we find ourselves, an undeniable reality that does not always appear in the plans of the Ministries, of educational institutions nor of many principals and teachers.

Peace Education has been conceived as a secondary matter; something necessary but accidental, important but not essential, present but “absent”

“Peace is not defined only by the absence of war and conflict, it is also a dynamic concept that needs to be grasped in positive terms, such as the presence of social justice and harmony, the possibility for human beings to fully realise their potential and respect for their right to live with dignity throughout their lives. Sustainable human development is not possible without peace. And without just, equitable, ongoing planning, peace cannot be maintained.” 1

These concepts, particularly relevant in the context of the analysis we are currently trying to develop, should influence all imaginable pedagogical proposals for Peace Education, giving it a multidimensional character, able to reach into different areas.

We are witnessing today a reworking of our models and our vocabularies and we understand that there are major changes in the concept of peace, above all as it relates to the opposite term, “war”. This conceptual modification should be integrated, along with the methodology for teaching it, into the learning of teachers and students.

Indeed, after many years the idea of peace has evolved and a broader and more complex understanding of it now relates it to the concepts of fairness, justice, respect for human rights, the rights of peoples and tolerance. Alongside this process, teaching practices in Peace Education have also been modified, taking on a clear commitment to the principles of democratic participation along with the implementation of educational activities which include issues of nonviolence and conflict transformation by peaceful means, with a view to building a more compassionate, juster and fairer society.

Peace, as an individual, social, national and international value must be analysed in depth from an interdisciplinary and multidimensional perspective

Armed conflicts in other parts of the world now make us more open to a cognitive, systematic and up to date treatment of the miseries and cruelties of war and also to the analysis of its terrible consequences, using the multiple resources that the media allow us, bringing it closer to us. Peace, as an individual, social, national and international value must be tested and analysed in depth from an interdisciplinary and multidimensional perspective.

The geographical and historical treatment of the subject is necessary but not sufficient. Concepts and issues such as nationalism, sovereignty and the state; the role of the UN in the world of today; the reality of different ethnicities and their complicated coexistence; intercultural dialogue; solutions and disagreements within conflicts; the situation of refugees and their terrible defencelessness before the attacks of “friends” and enemies; crime related to drugs and prostitution; the dangers of nuclear war; the arms race and the arms trade as a profitable global business are urgent and important issues.

All of these issues desperately need to be the subject of reflection, debate, research and criticism by both teachers and students in an ongoing exercise of deepening knowledge, developed both individually and collectively on the basis of obtaining information from many sources, promoting the exchange of different opinions, developing critical judgment and the respect for diversity 2 .

But even this is not enough if we isolate the international problems that distress us so much from the everyday “wars” of the society in which we live. Marginalisation, social exclusion, violence and persecution are not things that we can only find in news reports about Mexico, Colombia, Syria, Crimea, Iran, Iraq, Pakistan, Afghanistan…

An obligatory task of education is to link direct open conflicts with those “wars” which have other features

There are other “wars” much closer to home, right next to us. Social inequality, lack of vital resources for much of the population, unemployment and poverty create hopelessness and distrust of democratically elected governments. Authoritarian mechanisms, the control of information, crimes, delinquency and impunity are part of our political life.

In this sense, war is not so far away… and not only because of the globalisation of the arms trade or the information that we receive from the transnational media. It is a daily war to survive in terrible conditions of housing and health, of education and employment, of the insufficiency of essential public services and insecurity, with basic inherent principles of human dignity being trampled on every day in many countries and continents.

It is an obligatory task of education to link these two aspects: the direct open conflicts with those “wars” which have other features but are no less intense. Only through a comprehensive analysis of the roots of violence, its characteristics, forms and consequences can we make it possible to achieve a critical reflection, at the levels of both the individual and society, so as to generate possible changes that may lead towards a lasting peace in today’s world.

This is the great educational challenge for the coming years and for our pedagogical work in the field of Peace Education.Let us dare to face up to it.

1. Iglesias Díaz, Calo (2007). Educar pacificando: Una pedagogia de los conflictos , 1ª edición, Madrid, Fundación Cultura de Paz Editorial.

2 Bazán Campos, Domigo (2008). El oficio de pedagogo. Aportes para la construcción de una pràctica reflexiva en la escuela , Rosario, Argentina, Ed. Homo Sapiens.

Photography : United Nations Development Programme in Europe and CIS / CC BY / Desaturada. – Kids celebrate peace, friendship and tolerance on United Nations day –

© Generalitat de Catalunya

Other articles in this magazine

The role of women in peace research, transversal politics: a practice of peace, always disobedient, neither a destructive war nor an oppressive peace, first international congress of women, la haya, 1915, materials and resources recommended by the icip, islamic state and the kurds, new heavyweight players in the middle east, news, activities and publications about the icip, interview with adilia caravaca, president of wilpf.

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What’s the Relationship Between Peace and Justice?

“If you want peace, work for justice.” 

This famous quote comes from Pope Paul VI’s address for the Day of Peace in 1972, and touches on the important connection between peace and justice. As we are faced with many challenges that threaten peace and justice in our present day, the words of Pope Paul still ring out with the strength of truth.

We all want to see a more peaceful and just world, but what will it take to get us there?   A great place to begin answering this question is with a more comprehensive understanding of global peace and justice and their relationship to one another. 

Working toward Global Peace and Global Justice

Peace and justice are common words. We use them in our workplaces, in our homes and in everyday interactions. They help us to describe the state of our souls or to illuminate our sense of being wronged. Every human has personally experienced the meaning of these words through their sense of well-being or unease and anger. 

Peace and justice are also global words. They express something we look for in the world at large. We long to see them present in global economies and societies. We want the whole world to be at peace and the whole world to operate in justice.

Why do these concepts seem inextricably linked? Let’s explore the meaning and relationship between these key concepts and look at some of the ways peace and justice are violated in the world today.

What’s the Connection Between Peace and Justice?

The connection between peace and justice is intrinsic. Peace is an indication that the current state of affairs (interiorly in the case of a person’s mind or soul or exteriorly between peoples or nations) is harmonious and properly ordered. It is a state of tranquility, a sense that “all’s right with the world.”

Here’s how Pope Paul VI explains it :

“It is difficult, but essential, to form a genuine idea of Peace. It is difficult for one who closes his eyes to his innate intuition of it, which tells him that Peace is something very human. This is the right way to come to the genuine discovery of Peace: if we look for its true source, we find that it is rooted in a sincere feeling for man. A Peace that is not the result of true respect for man is not true Peace. And what do we call this sincere feeling for man? We call it Justice.”

According to Pope Paul VI, justice is a sincere feeling toward the other.

A nation with a sincere feeling toward a marginalized group living within its borders will not oppress, persecute or drive them out. A person with a sincere feeling toward another person will not steal from them, cheat them or spread rumors about them. People with sincere feelings toward themselves will treat themselves with respect and kindness.

By Pope Paul’s explanation, sincerity is something we owe each other by virtue of our worth as human beings. Any action or state of being that diminishes or does not recognize our human value is unjust.

How to Establish Peace and Justice in the World

When the state of the world feels uneasy, it can be difficult to know what to do or where to turn. Our own actions may not seem like enough, and yet—we are called to speak out against injustices in the world. There are many simple ways each of us can work to establish peace and justice in the world. Here are three simple things you can do right now:

• Speak out when we see injustices. Sometimes all it takes to begin building a more peaceful and inclusive society is one person who is willing to stand up for what is right.
• Take action to overcome our own barriers. When we treat ourselves with love and kindness we are bringing more peace into our own lives, which we can in turn share with others. 
• Offer up prayers. The power of prayer can change the hearts of people all over the world and bring them greater peace. It can also soften our own heart to be more attentive to the needs of our suffering brothers and sisters.

Prayer is the most powerful tool we have. It allows God to enter our heart and fill us with his love. Consider adding the following prayer into your daily reflections:

Prayer for Peace and Justice in the World

"Lord Jesus Christ, who are called the Prince of Peace, who are yourself our peace and reconciliation, who so often said, 'Peace to you,' grant us peace. Make all men and women witnesses of truth, justice, and brotherly love. Banish from their hearts whatever might endanger peace. Enlighten our leaders that they may guarantee and defend the great gift of peace. May all peoples of the earth become as brothers and sisters. May longed-for peace blossom forth and reign always over us all." —Saint John XXIII

Learn More About the Relationship Between Peace and Justice

Divine Word Missionaries work passionately to address issues related to peace and justice and to help those who are most affected by conflict. From our work fighting human trafficking to our work supporting migrants and refugees, we are confronting sources of conflict and attempting to bring true and lasting peace.

If you are interested in learning more about peace and justice in the world today, explore our  informative resource and discover facts about the state of global conflict. 

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Essay on Peace And Harmony

Students are often asked to write an essay on Peace And Harmony in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Peace And Harmony

Understanding peace and harmony.

Peace and harmony mean when people live without fighting, and everything is calm. Imagine a quiet lake or a group of friends sharing toys. It’s like that, but for everyone in the world.

Why They Matter

Living in peace makes us happy. When we get along with others, we feel good, and our heart is light. Harmony brings people together, making our world a better place.

Creating Peace

To make peace, we must be kind and listen to others. We should not shout or be mean. Sharing, helping, and understanding each other are the keys to a peaceful life.

Peace at Home and School

Peace starts with us. At home, we can be nice to our family. At school, we can be friends with everyone. No bullying, no teasing, just smiles and teamwork.

Working Together

When we work together, we can solve big problems. By talking and not fighting, we can fix things that are wrong and make sure everyone is happy and safe.

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• Paragraph on Peace And Harmony

250 Words Essay on Peace And Harmony

Peace and harmony mean living without fighting, anger, or fear. Imagine a world where everyone gets along, like friends in a playground. Peace is when people are calm and happy inside, and harmony is when they share that happiness with others.

Why Peace and Harmony Matter

Peace and harmony are important because they make life better for everyone. Think of your home. When everyone is kind and understands each other, it feels safe and warm. That’s what peace and harmony do; they create a place where we all feel good.

Building Peace and Harmony

To build peace, we must learn to be patient and not get angry quickly. We should listen to others and try to understand how they feel. Harmony comes when we help each other and work as a team. It’s like playing a sport where everyone passes the ball and cheers for one another.

Peace and Harmony in the World

In the big world, peace and harmony mean countries and people not fighting. Leaders and citizens must talk and solve problems without using force. This way, we can all live safely and enjoy life.

Everyone’s Role

Everyone has a part in making peace and harmony. You can start by being nice to your family and friends. Share, don’t fight over toys, and say sorry when you make a mistake. When we all do these small things, we make our world a peaceful and happy place.

500 Words Essay on Peace And Harmony

Peace and harmony are like two best friends who always go together. Imagine a world where everyone is kind to each other, where no one fights, and where all people, animals, and nature live happily. That world is full of peace and harmony.

Peace means no war, no fighting, and no being mean. It’s like a quiet, calm day with no storms. Harmony is when everyone gets along well, like different notes in a song that sound beautiful together.

Why Peace and Harmony are Important

Think about a time when you played with your friends without any arguments. It felt good, right? That’s because when we live in peace and get along, we feel safe and happy. We do better in school, have fun with our friends, and our families are happier too.

Without peace, we would always be scared and worried. And without harmony, we would always be alone because we wouldn’t have friends. That’s why having both peace and harmony is very important for all of us.

Peace and Harmony at Home

Our homes are the first places where we learn about peace and harmony. When family members love and care for each other, and when there are no shouts or fights, that’s peace. And when everyone in the family listens and respects each other’s ideas, that’s harmony.

For example, when you share your toys with your brother or sister and play without fighting, your home is filled with peace and harmony.

Peace and Harmony in School

School is another place where we can see peace and harmony. When students are friendly and teachers are kind, the school feels like a happy place. No bullying and no cheating on tests are signs of peace. When students from different places and backgrounds become friends and learn together, that’s harmony.

In a peaceful and harmonious school, everyone feels like they belong and can do their best.

The whole world needs peace and harmony too. Countries should not fight with each other. Instead, they should talk and solve problems without hurting anyone. When countries work together, share things, and help each other, our world becomes a better place.

Just like in a family or school, when the world has peace and harmony, there is less sadness and more joy.

How We Can Help

Even as students, we can do a lot to make peace and harmony around us. We can be kind to others, not fight, and help those who need it. We can also learn about other people and respect them, even if they are different from us.

By doing small things every day, like saying “thank you” and “sorry,” we build peace and harmony. And when we grow up, we can keep doing these things to make a bigger difference in the world.

In conclusion, peace and harmony are very precious. They make our lives happy, our homes loving, and our world beautiful. We all should work to keep peace and harmony everywhere, starting with ourselves. Remember, a peaceful and harmonious world begins with you and me.

That’s it! I hope the essay helped you.

If you’re looking for more, here are essays on other interesting topics:

• Essay on Peace And Development
• Essay on Peace
• Essay on Patriotism And Nationalism

Apart from these, you can look at all the essays by clicking here .

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Peace education

Peace education promotes the knowledge, skills and attitudes to help people prevent conflict occurring, resolve conflicts peacefully, or create conditions for peace.

Peace education activities promote the knowledge, skills and attitudes that will help people either to prevent the occurrence of conflict, resolve conflicts peacefully, or create social conditions conducive to peace.

Core values of nonviolence and social justice are central to peace education. Nonviolence is manifested through values such as respect for human rights, freedom and trust. Social justice is realised by principles of equality, responsibility, and solidarity.

In order to achieve these ideals, peace education programmes across the world address a wide range of themes.  These include nonviolence, conflict resolution techniques, democracy, disarmament, gender equality, human rights, environmental responsibility, history, communication skills, coexistence, and international understanding and tolerance of diversity.

Peace education can be delivered to people of all ages, in both formal and informal settings. Programmes exist at local, national, and international levels, and in times of peace, conflict, and post-conflict.

To create public dialogue different factions of society are often brought together in peace education programmes – these typically include civil society groups, schools, tribal leaders and the media. Yet due to the many areas covered by peace education, initiatives are primarily determined by culture and context, as well as by the projects’ scopes and objectives.

Peace education and peacebuilding are therefore intrinsically linked. The UN’s actions for peacebuilding include education as one of its principle components. For peacebuilding initiatives to remain sustainable it is vital that attitudes towards war and violence are transformed and translated into long-term behavioural change which seek alternative solutions to armed conflict.

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essay on world peace

Category:  Essays and Paragraphs On November 22, 2018 By Mary

World peace

World peace can be referred to as the state of people from all countries in the world being happy and living harmoniously with each other.

World peace creates one international community that can concentrate on greater issues that are affecting the planet like climate change.

When countries work together, they benefit their citizens since they can freely move from one country to another for employment, education or tourism.

Importance of world peace

• World peace leads to  increased globalization . Globalization is the act where people from different countries are able to interact freely with each other in various aspects.
• World peace also leads to the  promotion of tourism . With peace, people are freer to tour any country of their choice without fear of violence.
• World peace also contributes to  cultural exchanges . People are able to interact freely with each other and they can learn different cultures from other people.
• World peace also contributes to  more   developed economies . This is because people are able to carry out both domestic and foreign investments without fear of the risk of future violence.
• World peace also contributes to the  unification of people to fight unfair vices.  People are able to speak with one voice to get rid of vices like racism, religious discrimination and gender inequality.
• World peace also contributes to the  reduction of wars . Warring countries or internal nation conflicts can be reduced if world peace existed. War is the main cause of human suffering in the world.
• With world peace, you are also assured of  increased freedom of people . People get more freedom whether they are from different religions, race or country. This promotes global cohesion.

How to achieve world peace

• We can achieve world peace through having  international bodies  that will ensure that every nation upholds world peace. Such a body is United Nations and other world organizations that ensure every country has the responsibility of promoting peace.
• We can also achieve world peace through  upholding democracy . The main cause of world violence is dictatorship. When countries have the freedom to vote, they are able to choose the right leaders who are peace friendly.
• World peace is also achieved through  globalization . When globalization is encouraged, countries will uphold peace since they will avoid going into war with countries that have economic ties with them.
• We achieve world peace when there is  equal representation of nations in international bodies.  This will ensure that no nation is oppressed and no nation is left behind. When some nations are not represented, it creates inequality which may stir violence.
• World peace can also be achieved by  raising awareness  of the importance of world peace. Nations can create awareness to their citizens by teaching them on the benefits that they will get when they have peaceful coexistence with other nations.
• World peace can also be achieved by  sharing the country’s wealth equally . This is by giving equal opportunities to all and not overtaxing the poor. This will reduce the cases of rebel movements.

World peace is very important in the growth and prosperity of the entire global community. This is because with world peace, we are able to have more social cohesion and interactions that are beneficial to everyone.

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Essay on peace: need and importance of peace.

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Essay on Peace: Need and Importance of Peace!

The issue of war and peace has always been a focal issue in all periods of history and at all levels relations among nations. The concern of the humankind for peace can be assessed by taking into account the fact that all religions, all religious scriptures and several religious ceremonies are committed to the cause of peace and all these advocate an elimination of war. The Shanti Path recited by the Hindus, the sermons of Pope and the commands of all the holy scriptures of the Christians, Muslims, Hindus, Sikhs and all other communities hold out a sacred commitment to peace.

Yet the international community fully realized the supreme importance of the virtue of peace against the evil of war only after having suffered the most unfortunate and highly destructive two World Wars in the first half of the 20th century. The blood soaked shreds of humanity that lay scattered in several hundred battle grounds, particularly on the soils of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, cried for peace, peace and peace on the earth.

The UN Charter and International Peace and Security:

The human consciousness then rallied in the Charter of the United Nations to affirm. “We the people of the United Nations determined to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war, which twice in our life time has brought untold sorrow to humankind…. and to unite our strength to maintain international peace and security….. have resolved to combine our efforts to accomplish these aims.”

Since 1945, the United Nations and its specialized agencies, several international associations and institutions, international peace movements, global and national level human rights movements and in fact all members of the international community have been consistently and strongly advocating the need for the preservation and promotion of peace against war.

In contemporary times, the most urgent and important international objective has been to preserve protect and defend peace against terrorism and terrorist organizations like A1 Qacda, Talibans, and other enemies of peace.

How International Community has been trying to secure peace:

Through international peace keeping under the aegis of the United Nations through the development and use of international law; creation of more international and regional institutions committed to promote peace, promotion of friendly cooperation for development among the member countries; popularization of peaceful means of conflict-resolution, institutionalization of relations among nations; integration of international community through strengthening of human consciousness in favour of peace against war; and by enhancing the ability for crisis-management, the humankind has been trying to secure peace against war.

Currently, through:

(i) Globalization i.e. by encouraging the free flow of people goods, information services and knowledge;

(ii) Establishment of non-official people to people socio-economic-cultural relations;

(iii) Organisation of international peace movements against nuclear weapons, armament race, militarisation, and environmental pollution;

(iv) Launching of special drives for elimination of such evils as apartheid, poverty, illiteracy; ill-health, hunger, disease, inequalities, tyranny and terrorism; and

(v) organised attempts at environment protection and protection of Human Rights of all, the international community has been making meaningful attempts to limit the chances of war.

What is Peace?

One elementary way of defining peace has been to say that peace is absence of war. This is, however, a very narrow view of peace. No doubt absence of war is the first condition of peace, yet peace is not merely an absence of war. It is in reality a condition characterised by peaceful, cooperative and harmonious conduct of international relations with a view to secure all-round sustainable development of the people of the world.

Nevertheless, since absence of war is the first condition of peace, one of the major concerns of all scholars and statesmen has been to formulate and follow the principles and devices needed for securing this primary objective. The cold war that kept the world preoccupied during 1945-90, indirectly secured this objective in a negative way by developing a balance of terror in international relations.

While it was successful in preventing a global war, it failed to prevent local wars and in fact gave rise to several tensions, stresses, strains and crises in international relations. The international community had to work very hard for keeping the conflicts and wars limited. It, however, successfully exhibited a welcome and positive ability in the sphere of crisis-management.

In fact, till today there have been present several hindrances in way of securing a stable, healthy and enduring peace. Fortunately, the final end of cold war came in the last decade of the 20th century and the world found herself living is an environment characterised by a new faith and commitment to peace, peaceful co-existence, peaceful conflict-resolution, liberalisation, cooperation for development and attempts at sustainable development.

The people began focusing their attention on the need for the protection of human rights of all, protection of environment and securing of a real and meaningful international integration. However several negative factors, ethnic conflict, ethnic violence, ethnic wars, terrorism in its several dimensions, neo-colonialism, hegemony n-hegemony and the like kept on acting as big hindrances.

The need to secure peace by controlling these evils continues to be a primary aim of international community. Crises have been repeatedly coming and these are bound to keep coming. This makes it very urgent for the humankind to prepare and act for managing crises through collective efforts and by the use of several devices.

Related Articles:

• Does Peace Require Non-Violence?
• 8 Devices used for the Preservation of Peace

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United States Institute of Peace

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Kenya, a Key U.S. Partner, Needs Help to Foster Peace in Africa and Beyond

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Kenya’s leader offers help, and will note urgent needs, in a rare African state visit to the U.S.
• Fueled by wars, the worst famine in recent memory looms in East Africa.
• An alarming reality: the investment Africa needs for stability is shrinking — not growing.

Wednesday, May 22, 2024

/ READ TIME: 6 minutes

By: Alex Rondos

This week’s state visit to the United States by Kenya’s president — the first by an African head of state in over 15 years — is meant ceremonially to celebrate 60 years of formal U.S.-Kenyan relations. But Kenya’s current importance for America lies in its role as a valued partner, especially on the continent with the world’s fastest-growing population . President William Ruto can underscore both imperatives and opportunities for U.S. roles across the continent that will shape security and prosperity for next generations of Americans and Africans. Urgent issues include averting catastrophic famine in East Africa and activating economic investment to support stability and democratization.

In short, Ruto’s talks with U.S. officials carry a mutual burden of responsibility, and an opportunity, to navigate our world’s current unpredictability to the benefit of both countries.

Amid East Africa’s broadest turmoil in recent memory, and unprecedented climate disasters, Kenya is balancing tough challenges: to sustain democracy, manage heavy debts and meet the political demands of a demographic tidal wave of youth. The United States welcomes a partner in Africa that has tried to sustain democracy and maintain an open economy. These are grounds for substantial discussions and, one hopes, a commitment to concrete actions during the visit.

Ruto’s visit will likely revolve around issues that are difficult but, if addressed imaginatively and boldly, could open strategic opportunities for the United States, Kenya and East Africa.

Famine: A Clear and Present Danger

Wars and climate change contribute to a famine, now looming in the nations around Kenya, that will exceed anything in recent memory and become the next destabilizer in the region. It would be surprising if Ruto were to remain silent at the international community’s apparent indifference, in contrast to the attention and resources devoted to Ukraine and, more recently, Gaza. The scale of potential catastrophe is horrifying. Death by mass starvation is now expected in Sudan . Food insecurity among Ethiopia’s 110 million people could tip into famine. Some 30 million are at risk of starvation in the region . International institutions, tied to a statistical definition of “famine,” often hesitate to use that label until it is too late to save many of its victims. President Ruto may well not mince his words.

He is likely to remind all that famine is the result of proliferating violence in the region. The conflict in Sudan is disintegrating into a web of regional battles and poses grave risks to its neighbors. Sudanese dams along the Nile, vulnerable to these conflicts, are key to the river’s steady flow downstream to Egypt. Sudan’s violence has interrupted South Sudan’s economically vital oil exports, partly by damaging a pipeline that carries them to Port Sudan.

Any effective international response to the famine crisis will require the kind of leadership that the United States can offer.

Any effective international response to the famine crisis will require the kind of leadership that the United States can offer. Saving lives and reducing strategic risks will require coordinated political initiatives and protection of critical infrastructure. The region’s conflicts mean that humanitarian responses to famine will need to access Sudan or Ethiopia through Eritrea on the Red Sea, Kenya to the south or Chad to the west. Somalia, to the east, has failed to contain the violent extremism of a resilient Al Shabab movement. The crisis is regional and exacerbated by competing interests in the Gulf region.

Ruto visits Washington as president of a nation whose own security requires its diplomacy in the surrounding conflicts. Sudan’s civil war has now reached Kenya’s neighbor, South Sudan. Ethiopia’s disorder is on Kenya’s frontier. Somalia’s failure to contain Al Shabab leaves Kenya vulnerable. Kenya has engaged, mostly behind the scenes, to address the disparate violent conflicts across the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo , Sudan , Ethiopia and Somalia. In recent weeks, Kenya also hosted a reconciliation conference on South Sudan and convened parties to the Sudan conflict. It remains involved in northern Ethiopia’s conflict as a guarantor to the 2022 Pretoria Agreement for a cessation of hostilities there. The dispute between Somalia and Ethiopia is diverting attention from the need for a strategy to build peace among all Somalis, including the extremists of Al Shabab.

Africa’s Youth Amplify Need for Investment

Some 70 percent of the population in Kenya and much of Africa is under 30 years old. Continent-wide, a tidal wave of youthful discontent is building, and any chance to provide education, livelihoods and hope for their futures requires sustained economic investment now. The recent years’ collapse of most of the Sahel region into communal or extremist insurgencies and military coups shows how quickly such a mass can be radicalized to violence. Ruto will want to see whether the United States understands the strategic gravity of this threat — and the alternative future that Kenya and other African democracies can offer if supported.

The alarming and brutal economic reality is the inverse of what the world needs for an Africa that contributes to global stability in this century: foreign investment in Africa, including Kenya, is shrinking . Africa’s democracy advocates and governance reformists understand that creating conditions conducive to serious and long-term investment begins with their own countries. But they insistently question the external constraints shaped by international institutions and major-power rivalries. Kenyans, like other Africans, describe feeling U.S. pressures against many investments from China. And they lament ways that international sanctions impede investments from Russia. Western finance is too timid, and international financial institutions place conditions that prohibit rapid and timely investment at the scale needed.

Kenya may well press for ways to welcome investors from diverse, even competing, global sources. A test will be whether the United States is willing to work with Kenyans so that their own government and institutions become an effective and transparent gatekeeper for business cooperation among American, Chinese, Russian, Indian, Japanese and Gulf businesses.

This web of issues forms the background against which Kenya has accepted the difficult mission, proposed by the United States, to send armed police forces to help stabilize Haiti . Legal objections were raised in Kenyan courts and have been overcome. But Kenya has had to confront serious threats to regional peace with military expeditions to Somalia or the Democratic Republic of Congo — and it knows how critically the Haiti mission will need intelligence, communications, logistics and military support in the face of well-armed, hostile, indigenous forces. Given Haiti’s distance from Kenya, Kenyans will assume that the United States is prepared to fill those needs.

Alex Rondos is a senior advisor for USIP’s Africa Center and co-chair of the Institute’s Senior Study Group on Peace and Security in the Red Sea Arena.

The views expressed in this publication are those of the author(s).

PUBLICATION TYPE: Analysis

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What I’ve Learned From My Students’ College Essays

The genre is often maligned for being formulaic and melodramatic, but it’s more important than you think.

By Nell Freudenberger

Most high school seniors approach the college essay with dread. Either their upbringing hasn’t supplied them with several hundred words of adversity, or worse, they’re afraid that packaging the genuine trauma they’ve experienced is the only way to secure their future. The college counselor at the Brooklyn high school where I’m a writing tutor advises against trauma porn. “Keep it brief , ” she says, “and show how you rose above it.”

I started volunteering in New York City schools in my 20s, before I had kids of my own. At the time, I liked hanging out with teenagers, whom I sometimes had more interesting conversations with than I did my peers. Often I worked with students who spoke English as a second language or who used slang in their writing, and at first I was hung up on grammar. Should I correct any deviation from “standard English” to appeal to some Wizard of Oz behind the curtains of a college admissions office? Or should I encourage students to write the way they speak, in pursuit of an authentic voice, that most elusive of literary qualities?

In fact, I was missing the point. One of many lessons the students have taught me is to let the story dictate the voice of the essay. A few years ago, I worked with a boy who claimed to have nothing to write about. His life had been ordinary, he said; nothing had happened to him. I asked if he wanted to try writing about a family member, his favorite school subject, a summer job? He glanced at his phone, his posture and expression suggesting that he’d rather be anywhere but in front of a computer with me. “Hobbies?” I suggested, without much hope. He gave me a shy glance. “I like to box,” he said.

I’ve had this experience with reluctant writers again and again — when a topic clicks with a student, an essay can unfurl spontaneously. Of course the primary goal of a college essay is to help its author get an education that leads to a career. Changes in testing policies and financial aid have made applying to college more confusing than ever, but essays have remained basically the same. I would argue that they’re much more than an onerous task or rote exercise, and that unlike standardized tests they are infinitely variable and sometimes beautiful. College essays also provide an opportunity to learn precision, clarity and the process of working toward the truth through multiple revisions.

When a topic clicks with a student, an essay can unfurl spontaneously.

Even if writing doesn’t end up being fundamental to their future professions, students learn to choose language carefully and to be suspicious of the first words that come to mind. Especially now, as college students shoulder so much of the country’s ethical responsibility for war with their protest movement, essay writing teaches prospective students an increasingly urgent lesson: that choosing their own words over ready-made phrases is the only reliable way to ensure they’re thinking for themselves.

Teenagers are ideal writers for several reasons. They’re usually free of preconceptions about writing, and they tend not to use self-consciously ‘‘literary’’ language. They’re allergic to hypocrisy and are generally unfiltered: They overshare, ask personal questions and call you out for microaggressions as well as less egregious (but still mortifying) verbal errors, such as referring to weed as ‘‘pot.’’ Most important, they have yet to put down their best stories in a finished form.

I can imagine an essay taking a risk and distinguishing itself formally — a poem or a one-act play — but most kids use a more straightforward model: a hook followed by a narrative built around “small moments” that lead to a concluding lesson or aspiration for the future. I never get tired of working with students on these essays because each one is different, and the short, rigid form sometimes makes an emotional story even more powerful. Before I read Javier Zamora’s wrenching “Solito,” I worked with a student who had been transported by a coyote into the U.S. and was reunited with his mother in the parking lot of a big-box store. I don’t remember whether this essay focused on specific skills or coping mechanisms that he gained from his ordeal. I remember only the bliss of the parent-and-child reunion in that uninspiring setting. If I were making a case to an admissions officer, I would suggest that simply being able to convey that experience demonstrates the kind of resilience that any college should admire.

The essays that have stayed with me over the years don’t follow a pattern. There are some narratives on very predictable topics — living up to the expectations of immigrant parents, or suffering from depression in 2020 — that are moving because of the attention with which the student describes the experience. One girl determined to become an engineer while watching her father build furniture from scraps after work; a boy, grieving for his mother during lockdown, began taking pictures of the sky.

If, as Lorrie Moore said, “a short story is a love affair; a novel is a marriage,” what is a college essay? Every once in a while I sit down next to a student and start reading, and I have to suppress my excitement, because there on the Google Doc in front of me is a real writer’s voice. One of the first students I ever worked with wrote about falling in love with another girl in dance class, the absolute magic of watching her move and the terror in the conflict between her feelings and the instruction of her religious middle school. She made me think that college essays are less like love than limerence: one-sided, obsessive, idiosyncratic but profound, the first draft of the most personal story their writers will ever tell.

Nell Freudenberger’s novel “The Limits” was published by Knopf last month. She volunteers through the PEN America Writers in the Schools program.

• International

Middle East turmoil

UK general election

Middle East turmoil: Spain, Norway and Ireland to recognize a Palestinian state

By Kathleen Magramo, Maureen Chowdhury, Antoinette Radford, Elise Hammond and Tori B. Powell, CNN

France says it's not the "right time" for it to recognize Palestinian statehood 

From CNN's Saskya Vandoorne in Paris and Niamh Kennedy in London 

France has said now is not the "right time" for it to join its European Union neighbors, Ireland and Spain, in recognizing Palestinian statehood.  

The country's Foreign Minister Stephane Séjourne stressed that his government's "position is clear" that the recognition of Palestinian statehood is "not a taboo" for France. His remarks come after Ireland, Spain and Norway all announced their plans to formally recognize a Palestinian state on May 28.  

"This decision must be useful, in other words, it must enable a decisive advance to be made on the political front," Séjourne said in a foreign ministry statement on Wednesday.  

"France does not consider that the conditions have yet been met for this decision to have a real impact on this process. ... With this in mind, it must come at the right time, so that there is a before and an after," he added. 

The foreign minister stressed that such a decision is not merely a "symbolic issue or a question of political positioning" but rather a "diplomatic tool" in the service of the two-state solution in the Middle East.   

Ireland's Prime Minister Simon Harris told a news conference earlier Wednesday that he was "confident" that "more countries will join us" in recognizing Palestinian statehood in the near future.  

On Tuesday, France broke away from its Western allies and expressed support for the International Criminal Court after the court announced  its decision to seek arrest  warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his defense minister, as well as Hamas leaders.

Huge crowds of mourners march through Tehran bidding farewell to former President Raisi 

From CNN’s Zahid Mahmood in London

Hundreds of thousands of people turned out on the streets of Tehran on Wednesday to participate in the funeral procession and bid farewell to Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, both killed in a helicopter crash this week. 

Crowds of mourners were seen wearing black marching through the Iranian capital carrying Iranian flags, and holding photographs of the deceased President Raisi, Amir-Abdollahian and other officials who were killed in Sunday’s helicopter crash . 

On Tuesday, the bodies of the victims were transferred to the holy Shiite city of Qom, where many of the clerics who make up Iran’s theocratic elite are trained. Later on Tuesday evening, the bodies were returned to the capital to lie at Tehran's Grand Mosallah (prayer hall).

A truck was seen to be moving through the crowds with loudspeakers playing verses from the Quran through Tehran.

Mourners told CNN they were very “shocked” and “sad” at the news of Raisi’s death and were seen waving flags with a black background which say Raisi was a “martyr of God."

Israeli foreign minister recalls ambassador to Spain

From Mike Schwartz in Jerusalem and Al Goodman in Madrid, Spain

The Israeli foreign minister has ordered the recall of the country’s ambassador to Spain following Madrid’s decision to recognize a Palestinian state . 

Israel Katz also summoned the ambassadors of Norway and Ireland for “reprimand talks,” during which they will watch stark video taken during Hamas’ October 7 attacks, the Israeli foreign ministry said in a statement.  

"History will remember that Spain, Norway and Ireland decided to award a gold medal to the murderers and rapists of Hamas who raped teenage girls and burned babies,” Katz said. 

“Israel will not let it stand - their step will have serious consequences," Katz added.

Hamas calls on other countries to recognize Palestinian state

From CNN's Kareem Khadder

Norway, Ireland and Spain's decision to recognize a Palestinian state has been welcomed by Hamas, who has urged other countries to follow suit.

“We welcome the announcement by Norway, Ireland and Spain to recognize of the State of Palestine, and we consider it an important step on the path to establishing our right to our land and establishing our independent Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital,” a Hamas statement said.

"We call on countries around the world to recognize our legitimate national rights, support the struggle of our people for liberation and independence, and end the Zionist occupation of our land.” 

Earlier on Wednesday, Palestinian Authority also welcomed the decision of the three European nations to recognize a Palestinian state and similarly urged other countries to follow their lead.

Palestinian Authority president calls on other countries to recognize Palestinian state

From CNN’s Kareem Khadder

Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas has welcomed Ireland, Norway and Spain's decision to recognize a Palestinian state, urging other countries to follow their lead. 

The president’s office said Madrid's decision "reflects Spain’s keenness to support the Palestinian people and their inalienable and legitimate rights to their land and homeland,” according to a statement cited by Palestinian news agency Wafa. 

"Spain's decision, in these times, comes as a contribution from countries that believe in the two-state solution as an option that represents international will and legitimacy, in saving this solution, which is being systematically destroyed as a result of Israeli policies, especially through the continuation of the genocidal war in the Gaza Strip." 

Abbas said Norway and Ireland have "steadfastly supported the rights of the Palestinian people over the past years and voted in favor of these rights in international forums.”

“This initial decision is a culmination of these positions and is consistent with the principles of international law that recognize the right of peoples to get rid of colonialism and oppression and to live in freedom, justice and independence.” 

The presidency called for other countries to “follow the example of Norway, Ireland and Spain, which chose the path of supporting the achievement of peace and stability and consolidating the rules of international legitimacy, and international law.” 

"World community now needs progress" in Gaza peace process, says Norwegian foreign minister

From CNN’s James Frater in London

Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide said Wednesday that the “world community now needs progress" in the process of seeking peace in Gaza.

Norway, Spain and Ireland have announced plans to formally recognize a Palestinian state . Israel responded to the announcement by ordering the immediate recall of its ambassadors to Ireland and Norway. 

When asked by a reporter whether the Norwegian government risks side-tracking the peace process, Eide said:

“This is a clear signal to both moderate forces on the Palestinian side and the Israeli side that the world community now needs progress in this process, and that is what we will continue to work for.”

“We want to maintain both close diplomatic and other relations (with Israel). There are many links between Norway and Israel, and what they do is up to them,” he said. 

Decision to recognize Palestinian statehood "important step towards peace," say Ireland, Spain and Norway leaders

From CNN's Niamh Kennedy and James Frater in London, and Al Goodman in Madrid

The prime ministers of Ireland, Spain and Norway have hailed their decision to recognize a Palestinian state as an "important step" toward "peace" in the region.  

All three stressed the role of Palestinian statehood in enforcing the two-state solution in the Middle East.  

Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez told the Spanish parliament that Spain had chosen to "recognize the state of Palestine for peace, coherence and justice."  

Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris called the move an "important step" toward "permanent peace," speaking to journalists in Dublin.  

 "Recognition is an act of powerful political and symbolic value. It is an expression of our view that Palestine holds and should be able to vindicate the full rights of a state including self-determination, self-governance, territorial integrity and security," Harris said.   "It is a decision being taken on its merits. But we cannot ignore the fact that we are taking it as Palestinians in Gaza are enduring the most appalling suffering, hardship and starvation. A humanitarian catastrophe unimaginable to most and unconscionable to all is unfolding in real time."

Harris acknowledged that although there will be "reaction" and "interpretations" of the decision's implications, it was important to "not lose sight" that children in Gaza and Israel both “deserve peace.” 

Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre told reporters in Oslo that "there can be no peace in the Middle East unless Palestinians and Israelis have their own state, and that there is a two-state solution."

"There cannot be a two-state solution without a Palestinian state, and in other words, peace in the Middle East requires a Palestinian state," Støre said.

Israel recalls its ambassadors to Ireland and Norway following decision to recognize a Palestinian state  

From CNN's Mike Schwartz in Jerusalem 

Foreign Minister Israel Katz has said he is ordering the immediate recall of Israel's ambassadors to Ireland and Norway following those countries’ decision to recognize a Palestinian state. 

"I am sending a clear message today — Israel will not hold back against those who undermine its sovereignty and endanger its security,” Katz said in a statement released by the ministry.  "Ireland and Norway intend to send a message to the Palestinians and the whole world today: Terrorism pays. After the terrorist organization Hamas carried out the largest massacre of Jews since the Holocaust, after it committed the most horrific sex crimes the world has seen, these countries chose to give a reward to Hamas and Iran and recognize a Palestinian state.” 

Spain was also among the three countries that announced plans Wednesday to formally recognize a Palestinian state starting May 28.

Spain, Norway and Ireland will recognize a Palestinian state on May 28

From CNN’s Sophie Jeong, Zahid Mahmood, Al Goodman and Niamh Kennedy

Spain, Norway and Ireland have announced plans to formally recognize a Palestinian state , in a move that is likely to bolster the global Palestinian cause but strain relations with Israel.

"Today, Ireland, Norway and Spain are announcing that we recognize the state of Palestine. Each of us will now undertake whatever national steps are necessary to give effect to that decision," Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris told a press conference in Dublin.  

The recognition will come into force in all three countries on May 28, Irish foreign minister Micheál Martin said.

Norway's Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre said the war in Gaza has “made it clear that achieving peace and stability must be predicted on resolving the Palestinian question.”

“In the midst of a war, with tens of thousands killed and injured, we must keep alive the only alternative that offers a political solution for Israelis and Palestinians alike: Two states, living side by side, in peace and security,” Støre said.

Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said: "We will recognize the state of Palestine for peace, coherence and justice."

"This recognition is not against the people of Israel and certainly not against the Jews. It’s not in favor of Hamas. It’s in favor of co-existence."

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Call for Papers - African Economic Conference 2024

May 20, 2024.

The 2024 African Economic Conference (AEC), jointly organized by the African Development Bank (AfDB), the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), will be held in Gaborone, Botswana, from 23-25 November 2024. 

Since its inception in 2006, the AEC series has fostered research, expert analysis, policy dialogue, and the exchange of knowledge on various issues and challenges facing Africa.

The theme of this year’s conference is “Securing Africa’s Economic Future Amidst Rising Uncertainty,” with a focus on the following four subthemes:

Global, regional, and national uncertainty impacts on Africa's development prospects: Global, regional, and national uncertainties can disrupt trade, investment flows, and economic growth. Geopolitical tensions, such as ongoing conflicts and shifting of alliances, add another layer of complexity to the continent's economic landscape. These tensions can lead to trade restrictions, sanctions, and alterations in global supply chains, affecting African economies dependent on a limited range of exports. Additionally, global financial market volatility, influenced by fluctuating interest rates and international relations, can contribute to economic instability. African economies, particularly those reliant on commodities like oil, minerals, and agricultural products, are susceptible to commodity price shocks. This volatility can trigger inflation, destabilize national currencies, and strain economies with substantial external debt, thus, reducing their capacity to finance development. The COVID-19 pandemic has compounded these challenges, disrupting global trade and investment flows. It has also reduced tourism revenues and strained healthcare systems, exacerbating economic difficulties. 

Such questions aim to foster a deep dive into the complexities and nuances of Africa's economic landscape amid global uncertainties, promoting a proactive discussion on resilience and economic policies under uncertainties. 

Policy-oriented papers linked to the conference's overall theme are of particular interest.

Submission Guidelines:

Interested authors should submit their papers to  rba.aec @undp.org  by 15 August 2024.

Only full papers addressing the conference theme will be considered for presentation. We encourage the submission of policy- and solution-oriented papers with strong empirical foundation.

Authors are asked to submit their papers and register according to the following schedule:

Submission of papers:      15 August 2024 

Notification of acceptance:     30 September 2024

Last day for registration for presenters:     20 October 2024

Conference dates:     23-25 November 2024

Young African researchers are especially encouraged to submit their articles. One of the objectives of the AEC series is to provide young African researchers the opportunity to not only share their work with a broader audience but also expand their networks.

Format Guidelines for Papers

Review process:.

All papers will be blind peer-reviewed by the co-organizing institutions. Only original, quality work will be accepted for presentation.

A distinguished panel will assess the papers presented and award a prize to a young author whose work is deemed the best conference paper. The winner will be announced at the closing ceremony.

Sponsorship:

Authors should indicate whether they require support to cover expenses (travel, accommodation, and daily subsistence allowance) associated with their participation at the conference. Only one author per paper accepted for presentation will be eligible for sponsorship. Support is reserved mainly for presenters and young researchers from Africa.

For further information, please read the 2024 African Economic Conference concept note . 

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