Peacebuilding, Global Peace Index, & Idealism

Peacebuilding and Peacekeeping: Understanding Their Role in Global Stability

In today’s globalized world, peacebuilding and peacekeeping are essential components of worldwide stability. According to the Global Peace Index (GPI), both peacebuilding and peacekeeping expenditures reflect a country’s investment in preventing conflict and maintaining peace. These efforts are often viewed as a positive indicator of a nation’s commitment to stabilizing regions and promoting long-term peace. However, recent data from 2023 and 2024 show the nuances of these investments.

Defining Peacebuilding and Peacekeeping

Peacebuilding refers to actions taken to address the root causes of conflict and to help societies recover from violence. These efforts aim to establish sustainable peace by developing institutions, promoting justice, and ensuring that conflicts do not recur (Institute for Economics and Peace, 2024).

Peacekeeping, on the other hand, involves the deployment of international forces to prevent the resurgence of hostilities, often under the guidance of the United Nations or regional organizations.

Insights from the Global Peace Index

The GPI measures peace across three domains: ongoing domestic and international conflict, societal safety and security, and militarization. Higher spending on peacebuilding, as indicated in the 2024 GPI report, reflects proactive efforts to address violence and maintain stability. However, the economic impact of violence remains significant, with peacebuilding efforts constituting only a small fraction of global expenditures (Institute for Economics and Peace, 2024).

For example, military expenditures in 2023 amounted to $8.49 trillion, while peacebuilding accounted for a mere $26 billion (Institute for Economics and Peace, 2024). Despite the relatively low financial investment, peacebuilding remains crucial in regions experiencing post-conflict transitions.

Recent Trends and Examples

In 2023, countries like Norway and New Zealand, which consistently rank high in the GPI, increased their peacebuilding efforts to maintain their peaceful standings. Conversely, nations embroiled in conflict, such as Ukraine and Sudan, witnessed higher military expenditures, reflecting ongoing security challenges.

The chart below shows that military expenditure made up 56% of the global economic impact of violence in 2023, while peacebuilding accounted for less than 1% (Institute for Economics and Peace, 2024). This disparity highlights the challenges peacebuilding faces in a world where military force often takes precedence over long-term solutions.

Pros and Cons of Investing in Peacebuilding

Investing in peacebuilding can have long-lasting benefits. Countries that prioritize these efforts often enjoy lower levels of violence, reduced internal conflicts, and stronger political institutions. However, there are challenges. One major drawback is that such investments are often reactive, addressing post-conflict scenarios rather than preventing conflicts from emerging in the first place. Additionally, peacekeeping missions can face operational limitations, especially when conflicts are deeply rooted in societal or political issues.

Moreover, it’s important to recognize that peacebuilding efforts can sometimes be biased or incomplete, particularly if they are not inclusive of all stakeholders in a conflict. For instance, peace agreements may fail to address the needs of marginalized groups, leading to future tensions.

The Idealist Perspective on Global Peacebuilding and its Potential for World Peace

In the context of international relations, the Idealist theory emphasizes the importance of moral values, cooperation, and collective action over conflict and self-interest. This perspective provides a valuable lens through which to analyze the potential of peacebuilding as a tool for achieving world peace.

According to Idealists, peace is not simply the absence of conflict but a state of positive relations between nations, where cooperation and mutual respect thrive. In this light, peacebuilding efforts reflect an important moral choice: the prioritization of diplomacy, development, and humanitarianism over militarization.

Current Importance of Peacebuilding in Global Consciousness

Despite ongoing conflicts and global instability, peacebuilding has become increasingly important in the global consciousness. Institutions like the United Nations and regional organizations are focusing more on peacebuilding initiatives, and countries like Norway and Sweden invest heavily in global peace efforts. The Global Peace Index reflects that peacebuilding expenditures, while still a small part of global budgets, play a significant role in post-conflict recovery and the stabilization of fragile states.

However, peacebuilding remains underfunded.

Military expenditures vastly outweigh investments in peace, as seen in the 2023 data from the Institute for Economics and Peace, which shows that while military spending totaled $8.49 trillion, peacebuilding accounted for just $26 billion (Institute for Economics and Peace, 2024).

This disparity illustrates a global imbalance in prioritizing long-term peace versus immediate security concerns.

The Potential of Peacebuilding in Achieving World Peace

From an Idealist perspective, a world where more nations invest in peacebuilding is not only possible but desirable. Idealists argue that peace is a public good—something that benefits all countries, regardless of borders. Therefore, if more nations commit resources to peacebuilding, it could reduce the frequency of conflicts, prevent the recurrence of violence, and build stronger political and social institutions. This kind of international cooperation aligns with Idealist goals of promoting peace through diplomacy and shared values.

Increased peacebuilding efforts could potentially contribute to world peace by:

• Addressing root causes of conflict: Investing in education, economic development, and political inclusivity can reduce the triggers for violence, creating more stable societies.
• Promoting dialogue: Mediation and negotiation efforts can help resolve disputes before they escalate into conflicts.
• Strengthening global institutions: More investment in peacebuilding would empower organizations like the United Nations to take on greater roles in global governance, ensuring a collaborative approach to conflict resolution.

Barriers to Greater Investment in Peacebuilding

While the benefits of peacebuilding are clear, the reality is that current global systems are more attuned to militaristic solutions. The world is still heavily influenced by Realist ideas of state sovereignty, self-interest, and the need for military strength to ensure security.

Countries often see peacebuilding as a secondary priority compared to their immediate security concerns.

However, Idealists would argue that these Realist tendencies are short-sighted.

Investing in peacebuilding can lead to long-term security and stability, which ultimately benefits all nations. If more governments recognized that peace is achievable through cooperation, diplomacy, and humanitarian efforts, then a more peaceful world could be within reach.

Conclusion: Can Peacebuilding Lead to World Peace?

In conclusion, increased investment in peacebuilding presents a viable route to achieving world peace, especially through an Idealist lens. By addressing the underlying causes of conflict and promoting cooperation over competition, countries can create more stable, peaceful societies. While peacebuilding is underfunded and often overlooked, it holds great potential for shaping a more harmonious world. If nations redirect resources from militarization to peacebuilding, they could move closer to the Idealist vision of a positive global peace.

The GPI data from 2023 and 2024 show us the importance of peacebuilding and peacekeeping in global stability.

Although financial investments in these areas remain low compared to military spending, their impact on long-term peace is undeniable.

As the global community moves forward, increasing the focus on peacebuilding (particularly in post-conflict regions) will be crucial for fostering a more peaceful world.

References

1. Institute for Economics and Peace. (2024). Global Peace Index 2024: Measuring Peace in a Complex World. Sydney: Institute for Economics and Peace.
2. Vision Of Humanity. (2024, 10 octubre). Global News & Analysis » Unlock Insights on Current Events. https://www.visionofhumanity.org/news-articles/
3. PEACEBUILDING |. (s. f.). https://www.un.org/peacebuilding/
4. Dlewis. (2023, 1 febrero). Defining the Concept of Peace » Positive & Negative Peace. Vision Of Humanity. https://www.visionofhumanity.org/defining-the-concept-of-peace/#:~:text=What%20is%20Positive%20Peace%3F,complex%20challenges%20the%20world%20faces.