Abolishing War: Is Peace Possible?
- To navigate the chaos of international relations, establishing rules, law, and democracy is essential.
- War, defined as the organized killing of one group by another, remains a grim reality.
- War persists because societies organize themselves around "in-groups" and "out-groups," fostering division and conflict.
Can peace ever truly prevail? The path to abolishing war hinges on enforceable international law and a more democratic global governing body, a crucial discussion.Currently, conflicts persist because of the lack of global legal mechanisms. News Directory 3 examines why war has sadly remained a constant in our world, and what activists are doing to change it. With the current United Nations structure, with its democratic shortcomings, will peace remain a distant dream? Can we redefine humanity as a single “in-group” by ceding some sovereignty and resolve disputes through courts of law? Discover what’s next.
Enforceable Global Law Needed to end War, Ensure Security
Updated June 5, 2025
To navigate the chaos of international relations, establishing rules, law, and democracy is essential. Overcoming the threats posed by nuclear weapons and ultimately abolishing war requires a more democratic and empowered global governing body than the current United Nations.
War, defined as the organized killing of one group by another, remains a grim reality. Actions deemed vile and punishable within societies become acceptable during war. Despite its abhorrent nature, few actively seek its abolition or understand its persistence.
War persists because societies organize themselves around “in-groups” and ”out-groups,” fostering division and conflict. The critical question is weather humanity can redefine itself as a single “in-group,” civilizing a lawless world through enforceable international law.
Conflicts between nations continue due to the relative anarchy at the international level. While treaties provide some order, they lack the enforcement mechanisms of true law. The principle of “might makes right” still prevails.
the European Union demonstrates that peace is achievable. By ceding some sovereignty to a collective, member countries resolve disputes through parliament and courts. A similar international union with courts and a global parliament could bring peace worldwide.
The United Nations, with nearly universal membership, provides a forum for discussing global issues. Though, its democratic shortcomings and outdated structure hinder its effectiveness. The Security Council, particularly its five permanent members—the U.S., the U.K., France, Russia and China—wield veto power, and the General Assembly’s resolutions are merely recommendations.Furthermore, the UN suffers from a democratic deficit, with each member country having one vote nonetheless of population.
The current moment is critical.While international laws exist, their enforcement is inconsistent. Military might often dictates global affairs.
Organizations like Citizens for Global Solutions and the World Federalist Movement are working to establish a world governed by law, not force. These groups aim to build the legal institutions necessary for peace and to abolish war. Citizens for Global Solutions is actively promoting the International Court of Justice as a means to resolve disputes peacefully through its “Law, not War” campaign.
The challenge is to abolish war and create global institutions that resolve disputes through legal, not lethal, means. Jerry Tetalman, a peace activist and co-author of “One World Democracy,” has long advocated for these solutions. He has worked with Citizens for Global Solutions and the democratic World Federalist, and even ran for Congress in California’s 49th District in 2012.
What’s next
Continued efforts to strengthen international legal frameworks and promote the role of global institutions are crucial for achieving lasting peace and security.