– World Leadership Education Foundation (WLEF)
In answering this question, we often have an image popped up in the mind: world peace is a state of no-war; a free, democratic, and prosperous world; and a place where human and all other beings coexist in harmony. These are all good, but however are only the result of world peace, not the “cause” — particularly, not the approach that can lead to world peace.
The “result” of world peace may be more encouraging, but to find the “cause” is equally important. Chapter One of the United Nations Charter states: “All Members shall settle their international disputes by peaceful means in such a manner that international peace and security, and justice, are not endangered.” The UN adopted the concept of “collective self-defense,” and created a mechanism for maintaining peace. Such a mechanism is precisely one of the “cause” of world peace, and this is important. Unfortunately, the UN has not been very effective in promoting world peace.
Peace can not be realized because the global community is a “jungle,” where power is justice, politics overrides international morality, and big powers use military and economic dominance to compel smaller countries to accept their own agenda. There is no mechanism to fairly coordinate the world. In Africa, resource competition is rampant and spreading from between tribes to between political powers. Poor countries remain poor. Poverty derives from the exploitation as well as the use of subsidy policy by rich countries. The inequality between rich and poor expands. Countries are aware but few take actions. The United States refused to sign the Kyoto Protocol and continues to send staggering amount of carbon dioxide to the air. No one enforced the international law. This is the reality today, and it also reflects the global political and economic structure today.
Only by reforming the global political and economic structure can all the hindrances to world peace be eradicated. If the root of all problems is not addressed, any additional time and effort invested in humanitarian work is just a drop in the bucket. Even worse, its effect will be offset by big powers pursuing their own interests and growth. So, what constitute world peace? It is a new global political and economic structure, a new UN or world government, and a new global community different from the current one comprised of many independent countries.
