Peace is definitely crucial for every society. Peace — which usually refers to a state of harmony, tranquility and absence of violence or conflict — is the foundation upon which societies thrive and individuals flourish. But without peace, conflicts arise within and between nations, many lives are lost, many people are displaced and social progress is hindered. Among others, peace that allows for the cultivation of harmonious relationships fosters cooperation and understanding among diverse communities and between different nations. But there is a lack of peace in the world. According to multiple sources including newspapers, there are conflicts within and between different countries in Asia, Africa and other regions.
It is notable that territorial, socio-economic and other factors are responsible for the lack of peace. National interests, power struggles between different groups or nations, ideological differences, historical grievances, territorial disputes, ethnic or religious tensions and competition for resources are notable factors that directly lead to armed conflicts. For instance, many international wars including the two world wars were driven by national interests, power struggles among different nations and several other factors, while many civil wars including the Syrian civil war were driven by power struggles within the nation and several other factors. But diverse social and economic causes including disparities in wealth and resources and social inequality often contribute to unrest and armed conflict, even if their contribution is often indirect.
Social and economic opportunities that address the root causes of conflicts and foster inclusive communities definitely plays a crucial role in promoting peace. But keeping diverse social and economic grievances — driven by the lack of income opportunities, discrimination based on race, gender, ethnicity, political status or any other social status and other factors — unaddressed results in the creation of the conditions of desperation and ethnic tensions, fueling conflicts among different groups, communities, or even nations. Economic and social grievances notably contributed to many conflicts including the American civil war, the French revolution, the Syria war, the Yemen war and the civil war in Libya, though political and other factors played crucial roles.
Positively saying, the emphasis has increased on addressing social and economic grievances in the peace efforts. Diverse efforts are taken by governments and national and international organizations including the United Nations. Different countries implement inclusive economic and other policies to promote economic and social development and mitigate social and economic grievances through providing income opportunities, job training and access to diverse social opportunities for all individuals. But they are less in different communities and countries. There are limited access to economic and social resources and opportunities in many countries driven by the inadequate representation of marginalized groups, a lack of transparency in decision-making processes and several other factors.
While diplomatic steps are crucial to prevent wars before their occurrence and resolve armed conflicts and political negotiations are imperative to address power struggles and minimize the risk of conflicts, it is vital to address diverse social and economic grievances in order to reduce the chance of conflicts in many countries. For this, it is crucial to address the flaws in the social and economic grievance mitigation steps and create a more equitable society to reduce the likelihood of conflicts — arising from such grievances. Otherwise, it is difficult to promote peace and reduce conflicts in a sustainable manner in many countries in Asia, Africa and other regions.
Amir M Sayem
Chief Editor
Dhaka Opinion Magazine
