Despite claims of significant technological and economic progress, the world is plagued by small wars. This has raised questions on why the world has not been able to create constructive ways to find solutions to issues of a shared humanity; and it indicates that the existing systems and structures are not inclusive enough to embrace all peoples. Coupled with the ‘politics of silence’ existing systems has compelled people to be passive accomplices in sustaining an unjust world order.
State pragmatism and ‘real politik’ still continues to determine the fate and destiny of peoples and nations. Ironically the universe of values that emancipated the world from feudalism and colonialism has been equally responsible in holding captive the determining will of people. The theory of modernization failed as people still continue to languish under artificial boundaries imposed without consultation by departing colonial powers. In due process, ‘state-building’ destroyed ‘nations.’
The competition for pursuit of gain; the desire for safety and yearning for dignity and respect continues to be the underlying issues for political strife. And because self-instinct for survival causes quest for power; humankind has been perpetually compelled to seek power. It is the ‘fear of death’ which causes war, and the desire for ‘survival’ which persuades peace. Hence, when people are struggling for peace, it actually means justice. Peace is a revolutionary process that revolutionizes political interaction and just relation.
Ironically modern scholars are propounding the notion that ‘peacebuilding’ and ‘statebuilding’ are interchangeable concepts. This logic profoundly defies the basic principles of natural rights. It is the nature of state to go to war because it attains its legitimacy through ‘force and integration.’ Therefore if ‘peacebuilding’ and ‘statebuilding’ are said to be interchangeable, will it be fair to say that ‘war’ and ‘peace’ are interchangeable? If so, why are peace conditions visualized as ‘absence of war’ and war as ‘absence of peace?’
Human history is a history of war and not of peace; hence critical attention must turn to question that history. If peace is only in the mirror of war, one can say then that war is the natural condition; and that peace is what authority brings about? In this manner, modern state has tragically monopolized war and peace. Peace has been induced and conditioned by the state to patterns of domination. For genuine peace, one must perceive peace as living concept which can exist on its own, even outside the context of a state. To achieve peace, we must rediscover the full meaning of peace.
