Is World Peace Even Possible? I Study War and Peace and Here’s Where I’d Start

In 2025, global peace declined sharply, with armed conflicts doubling in five years and violent deaths reaching 240,000, according to the International Institute for Security Studies. The Global Peace Index recorded its sixth consecutive year of deterioration. University of Queensland professor Alex Bellamy, author of 'World Peace,' identifies three root causes: the decline of liberal democracy, shocks like the financial crisis and COVID-19, and inequality from globalization. He asserts that proven peace drivers—democracy, gender equality, fair trade, and UN peacekeeping—are effective but under threat. Bellamy proposes three urgent priorities: uphold UN Charter principles against aggression, revitalize UN and regional peacekeeping, and implement a UN-mandated International Stabilisation Force in Gaza to protect civilians and enable Palestinian statehood. He concludes that while peace is possible, it requires sustained, collective action.