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Each year the International Day of Peace is observed around the world on 21 September. The General Assembly has declared this as a day devoted to strengthening the ideals of peace, both within and among all nations and peoples. The United Nations Member States adopted the 17 Sustainable Development Goals in because they understood that it would not be possible to build a peaceful world if steps were not taken to achieve economic and social development for all people everywhere, and ensure that their rights were protected.
The Sustainable Goals cover a broad range of issues, including poverty, hunger, health, education, climate change, gender equality, water, sanitation, energy, environment and social justice. A peaceful society is one where there is justice and equality for everyone. Peace will enable a sustainable environment to take shape and a sustainable environment will help promote peace. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights is a milestone document in the history of human rights. Drafted by representatives with different legal and cultural backgrounds from all regions of the world, the Declaration was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in Paris on 10 December as a common standard of achievement for all peoples and all nations.
The Universal Declaration — the most translated document in the world, available in more than languages - is as relevant today as it was on the day that it was adopted. The Universal Declaration states in Article 3. This is why we ask you this year:. Wolfgang Dietrich in his research project which led to the book The Palgrave International Handbook of Peace Studies maps the different meanings of peace in different languages and from different regions across the world. Later, in his Interpretations of Peace in History and Culture , he groups the different meanings of peace into five peace families: Religious beliefs often seek to identify and address the basic problems of human life, including the conflicts between, among, and within persons and societies.
Peace is the concept of harmonious well-being and freedom from hostile aggression. In a social sense, peace is commonly used to mean a lack of conflict (such. Peace definition is - a state of tranquility or quiet: such as. How to use peace in a sentence.
In ancient Greek-speaking areas the virtue of peace was personified as the goddess Eirene , and in Latin-speaking areas as the goddess Pax. Her image was typically represented by ancient sculptors as that of a full-grown woman, usually with a horn of plenty and scepter and sometimes with a torch or olive leaves. And you, child, will be called prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, to give his people knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God by which the daybreak from on high will visit us to shine on those who sit in darkness and death's shadow, to guide our feet into the path of peace.
Numerous pontifical documents on the Holy Rosary document a continuity of views of the Popes to have confidence in the Holy Rosary as a means to foster peace. Subsequently, to the Encyclical Mense maio,, in which he urged the practice of the Holy Rosary, "the prayer so dear to the Virgin and so much recommended by the Supreme Pontiffs," and as reaffirmed in the encyclical Christi Matri, , to implore peace, Pope Paul VI stated in the apostolic Recurrens mensis, October , that the Rosary is a prayer that favors the great gift of peace.
Islam derived from the root word salam which literally means peace. Muslims are called followers of Islam. Quran clearly stated "Those who have believed and whose hearts are assured by the remembrance of Allah. Unquestionably, by the remembrance of Allah, hearts are assured" and stated "O you who have believed, when you are told, "Space yourselves" in assemblies, then make space; Allah will make space for you.
And when you are told, "Arise," then arise; Allah will raise those who have believed among you and those who were given knowledge, by degrees.
And Allah is Acquainted with what you do. Buddhists believe that peace can be attained once all suffering ends. They regard all suffering as stemming from cravings in the extreme, greed , aversions fears , or delusions. To eliminate such suffering and achieve personal peace, followers in the path of the Buddha adhere to a set of teachings called the Four Noble Truths — a central tenet in Buddhist philosophy.
May there be peace in the heavens, peace in the atmosphere, peace on the earth. Let there be coolness in the water, healing in the herbs and peace radiating from the trees.
Let there be harmony in the planets and in the stars, and perfection in eternal knowledge. May everything in the universe be at peace. Let peace pervade everywhere, at all times. May I experience that peace within my own heart. Let us not concord with our own people, and concord with people who are strangers to us. Celestial Twins, create between us and the strangers a unity of hearts.
May we unite in our minds, unite in our purposes, and not fight against the heavenly spirit within us. Let not the battle-cry rise amidst many slain, nor the arrows of the war-god fall with the break of day. A superior being does not render evil for evil. This is a maxim one should observe One should never harm the wicked or the good or even animals meriting death.
A noble soul will exercise compassion even towards those who enjoy injuring others or cruel deeds Who is without fault? Psychological or inner peace i. Being internally "at peace" is considered by many to be a healthy mental state, or homeostasis and to be the opposite of feeling stressful, mentally anxious, or emotionally unstable. Within the meditative traditions, the psychological or inward achievement of "peace of mind" is often associated with bliss and happiness.
Peace of mind, serenity, and calmness are descriptions of a disposition free from the effects of stress. Many such practices refer to this peace as an experience of knowing oneself. An emphasis on finding one's inner peace is often associated with traditions such as Buddhism , Hinduism , and some traditional Christian contemplative practices such as monasticism , [8] as well as with the New Age movement. He deployed satyagraha techniques in campaigns for Indian independence and also during his earlier struggles in South Africa. The word satyagraha itself was coined through a public contest that Gandhi sponsored through the newspaper he published in South Africa, 'Indian Opinion', when he realized that neither the common, contemporary Hindu language nor the English language contained a word which fully expressed his own meanings and intentions when he talked about his nonviolent approaches to conflict.
According to Gandhi's autobiography, the contest winner was Maganlal Gandhi presumably no relation , who submitted the entry 'sadagraha', which Gandhi then modified to 'satyagraha'. Etymologically, this Hindic word means 'truth-firmness', and is commonly translated as 'steadfastness in the truth' or 'truth-force'. Satyagraha theory also influenced Martin Luther King Jr. The theory of satyagraha sees means and ends as inseparable. Therefore, it is contradictory to try to use violence to obtain peace.
I would say, 'means are, after all, everything'. As the means so the end Muste , sums it up: Since classical times, it has been noted that peace has sometimes been achieved by the victor over the vanquished by the imposition of ruthless measures. In his book Agricola the Roman historian Tacitus includes eloquent and vicious polemics against the rapacity and greed of Rome.
One, that Tacitus says is by the Caledonian chieftain Calgacus , ends Auferre trucidare rapere falsis nominibus imperium, atque ubi solitudinem faciunt, pacem appellant. To ravage, to slaughter, to usurp under false titles, they call empire; and where they make a desert, they call it peace. Discussion of peace is therefore at the same time a discussion on the form of such peace.
Is it simple absence of mass organized killing war or does peace require a particular morality and justice? More recently, advocates for radical reform in justice systems have called for a public policy adoption of non-punitive, non-violent Restorative Justice methods, and many of those studying the success of these methods, including a United Nations working group on Restorative Justice , have attempted to re-define justice in terms related to peace.
From the late s on, a Theory of Active Peace has been proposed [11] which conceptually integrates justice into a larger peace theory.
Arranged alphabetically by author or source: John Maynard Keynes and International Relations: Hobson , John Strachey argued that capitalism caused war e. More recently, advocates for radical reform in justice systems have called for a public policy adoption of non-punitive, non-violent Restorative Justice methods, and many of those studying the success of these methods, including a United Nations working group on Restorative Justice , have attempted to re-define justice in terms related to peace. The Global Peace Index produced by the Institute for Economics and Peace is a known effort to evaluate peacefulness in countries based on 23 indicators of the absence of violence and absence of the fear of violence.
The longest continuing period of neutrality among currently existing states is observed in Switzerland , which has had an official policy of neutrality and general peace since for years as of Pacifism is the categorical opposition to the behaviors of war or violence as a means of settling disputes or of gaining advantage. Pacifism covers a spectrum of views ranging from the belief that international disputes can and should all be resolved via peaceful behaviors; to calls for the abolition of various organizations which tend to institutionalize aggressive behaviors, such as the military, or arms manufacturers; to opposition to any organization of society that might rely in any way upon governmental force.
Such groups which sometimes oppose the governmental use of force include anarchists and libertarians. Absolute pacifism opposes violent behavior under all circumstance, including defense of self and others. Pacifism may be based on moral principles a deontological view or pragmatism a consequentialist view. Principled pacifism holds that all forms of violent behavior are inappropriate responses to conflict, and are morally wrong.
Pragmatic pacifism holds that the costs of war and inter-personal violence are so substantial that better ways of resolving disputes must be found. Pacifists in general reject theories of Just War. Pacifism tends to place its initial focus on the need for a "peaceful behavior" ahead of any focus on the need for a "peaceful inner disposition. The United Nations UN is an international organization whose stated aims are to facilitate cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achieving world peace.
The UN was founded in after World War II to replace the League of Nations, to stop wars between countries, and to provide a platform for dialogue. The UN, after approval by the Security Council , sends peacekeepers to regions where armed conflict has recently ceased or paused to enforce the terms of peace agreements and to discourage combatants from resuming hostilities. Since the UN does not maintain its own military, peacekeeping forces are voluntarily provided by member states of the UN.
The forces, also called the "Blue Helmets", who enforce UN accords are awarded United Nations Medals , which are considered international decorations instead of military decorations. The peacekeeping force as a whole received the Nobel Peace Prize in The principal forerunner of the United Nations was the League of Nations. The high hopes widely held for the League in the s, for example amongst members of the League of Nations Union , gave way to widespread disillusion in the s as the League struggled to respond to challenges from Nazi Germany, Fascist Italy, and Japan.
Like many of the other British enthusiasts for the League, such as Gilbert Murray and Florence Stawell - the so-called "Greece and peace" set - he came to this from the study of the classics. The creation of the League of Nations, and the hope for informed public opinion on international issues expressed for example by the Union for Democratic Control during World War I , also saw the creation after World War I of bodies dedicated to understanding international affairs, such as the Council on Foreign Relations in New York and the Royal Institute of International Affairs at Chatham House in London.
At the same time, the academic study of international relations started to professionalize, with the creation of the first professorship of international politics, named for Woodrow Wilson, at Aberystwyth , Wales, in The late 19th century idealist advocacy of peace which led to the creation of the Nobel Peace Prize , the Rhodes Scholarships , the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace , and ultimately the League of Nations , also saw the re-emergence of the ancient Olympic ideal.
Led by Pierre de Coubertin , this culminated in the holding in of the first of the modern Olympic Games. The highest honour awarded to peace maker is the Nobel Prize in Peace , awarded since by the Norwegian Nobel Committee. It is awarded annually to internationally notable persons following the prize's creation in the will of Alfred Nobel. According to Nobel's will, the Peace Prize shall be awarded to the person who " In creating the Rhodes Scholarships for outstanding students from the United States, Germany and much of the British Empire, Cecil Rhodes wrote in that 'the object is that an understanding between the three great powers will render war impossible and educational relations make the strongest tie'.
William Fulbright in the goal of the Fulbright fellowships to promote international understanding and peace, and has guided many other international fellowship programs, [16] including the Schwarzman Scholars to China created by Stephen A. It is launched as a tribute to the ideals espoused by Gandhi in on the occasion of the th anniversary of his birth.
This is an annual award given to individuals and institutions for their contributions towards social, economic and political transformation through non-violence and other Gandhian methods. The award carries Rs. It is open to all persons regardless of nationality, race, creed or sex. The Student Peace Prize is awarded biennially to a student or a student organization that has made a significant contribution to promoting peace and human rights. The Culture of Peace News Network , otherwise known simply as CPNN , is a UN authorized interactive online news network, committed to supporting the global movement for a culture of peace.
The Sydney Peace Prize is awarded to an organization or an individual whose life and work has demonstrated significant contributions to: The achievement of peace with justice locally, nationally or internationally The promotion and attainment of human rights The philosophy, language and practice of non violence. A peace museum is a museum that documents historical peace initiatives.
Many peace museums also provide advocacy programs for nonviolent conflict resolution. This may include conflicts at the personal, regional or international level. Many different theories of "peace" exist in the world of peace studies , which involves the study of de-escalation, conflict transformation, disarmament, and cessation of violence. One definition is that peace is a state of balance and understanding in yourself and between others, where respect is gained by the acceptance of differences, tolerance persists, conflicts are resolved through dialog, people's rights are respected and their voices are heard, and everyone is at their highest point of serenity without social tension.
The iterated game hypotheses was originally used by academic groups and computer simulations to study possible strategies of cooperation and aggression. As peace makers became richer over time, it became clear that making war had greater costs than initially anticipated. One of the well studied strategies that acquired wealth more rapidly was based on Genghis Khan , i.
This led, in contrast, to the development of what's known as the "provokable nice guy strategy ", a peace-maker until attacked, improved upon merely to win by occasional forgiveness even when attacked. There exists a strategy of multiple players who can continue to gain wealth cooperating with each other while bleeding a constantly aggressive player. The classical "realist" position is that the key to promoting order between states, and so of increasing the chances of peace, is the maintenance of a balance of power between states - a situation where no state is so dominant that it can "lay down the law to the rest".
A related approach - more in the tradition of Hugo Grotius than Thomas Hobbes - was articulated by the so-called " English school of international relations theory " such as Martin Wight in his book Power Politics , and Hedley Bull in The Anarchical Society As the maintenance of a balance of power could in some circumstances require a willingness to go to war, some critics saw the idea of a balance of power as promoting war rather than promoting peace.
This was a radical critique of those supporters of the Allied and Associated Powers who justified entry into World War I on the grounds that it was necessary to preserve the balance of power in Europe from a German bid for hegemony. In the second half of the 20th century, and especially during the cold war , a particular form of balance of power - mutual nuclear deterrence - emerged as a widely held doctrine on the key to peace between the great powers. Critics argued that the development of nuclear stockpiles increased the chances of war rather than peace, and that the "nuclear umbrella" made it "safe" for smaller wars e.
It was a central tenet of classical liberalism , for example among English liberal thinkers of the late 19th and early 20th century, that free trade promoted peace. For example, the Cambridge economist John Maynard Keynes said that he was "brought up" on this idea and held it unquestioned until at least the s. He made this argument in These ideas have again come to prominence among liberal internationalists during the globalization of the late 20th and early 21st century. Socialist, communist, and left-wing liberal writers of the 19th and 20th centuries e. Hobson , John Strachey argued that capitalism caused war e.
This led some to argue that international socialism was the key to peace. However, in response to such writers in the s who argued that capitalism caused war, the economist John Maynard Keynes argued that managed capitalism could promote peace.