SUSTAINING PEACE IN A 21ST CENTURY CHEQUERED GLOBAL ARENA

Abstract

Just as time elapses by the ‘tik tok’ chyme of every second, the world continues to drift nearer doomsday, no thanks to the multiplication of myriads of societal divisive factors. Relatively interconnected and globalised as the case may be, but inherently and inharmoniously strewn in distrust and the eclipse of fraternal confidence, peace remains a mirage. The pursuit of peace has been a long-standing concern of human societies, with various disciplines contributing to the understanding of conflict and its resolution. This research examines the historical and theoretical foundations of peacebuilding, with a particular focus on the intersection of humanities and science. From the Enlightenment thinkers who first posited the idea of a peaceful international order to the modern-day applications of artificial intelligence and data analytics in conflict prediction and prevention, this study traces the evolution of peacebuilding, thought and practice. Through a critical analysis of key texts and concepts in the fields of history, philosophy, literature and science, the study identified how interdisciplinary approaches have shaped the understanding of peace and conflict. This study attempts to highlight the importance of integrating humanities and science in peacebuilding initiatives and demonstrates the potential of this approach to address complex global challenges. By methodically examining the historical and theoretical underpinnings of peacebuilding, this study provides a comprehensive framework for understanding the role of interdisciplinary collaboration in promoting peace and reducing conflict.