
An Imperative in Troubling Times
Existing approaches are failing to deliver lasting peace. 2021 saw more than 50 conflicts raging worldwide. Almost half of the conflicts since 1989 have recurred, some as many as three times. And more than two billion people live in conflict-affected and fragile states, suffering the direct and indirect consequences of violence and insecurity.
The past 30 years have seen great efforts to build peaceful societies and inclusive economies. Despite some successes, there are gaps at the heart of the current approach. Peacemaking too often fails when it is not sufficiently legitimate, inclusive, or transformative. It is time to recalibrate the way we practice peacemaking - both the principles behind it and the way we apply them.