The Meaning of Peace in the 21st Century

These days, peace is threatened in many parts of the world. A lot of intellectuals and NGOs are working for peace settlements and their efforts should be applauded. However, we have to fundamentally think about the meaning of peace. In other words, can we define peace just not involving a war? Do we have to assume that people live in peace as long as their government does not actually go to war? The answer is ‘No’.

The definition of peace like this was acceptable only a few centuries ago. In the 21st century, peace must be defined in a different way. For instance, around the world and especially in African countries, terrifying AIDS is more dangerous and frightening than any guns or weapons.

According to UNICEF statistics of 2009, estimated number of children (aged 0-14 years) living with HIV is more than 3 million worldwide. Although they are living in countries without wars they will soon lose their lives. In 50 poorest countries such as the Republic of Chad, Guinea-Bissau, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Afghanistan and Somalia, 1 out of every 6 children dies before 5 and the major causes behind their death are lack of sanitary facilities, drinking water, nutrition and vaccine. Do these children risk their lives because of a bomb? No, they don’t. They are dying because of extreme poverty. Therefore, we need a new definition of peace.

Peace means tranquillity. In tranquillity, human beings can protect their own human rights and dignity. Tranquillity is impossible for those without education because of poverty, for those arrested and punished because of their expression and for those sleeping in the open because of having no home and all of them do not live in peace. In order to firmly establish peace into society, we need two solid foundations firmly established and they are democracy and social justice.

If a particular society is under dictatorship – either religious one or political one, if a particular government does not respect public opinion and the vote and if that particular government calms down opposing views by arresting or shooting at people who have objection, one day peace in that country will fall to pieces.

Another aspect I would like to stress is that we need to rethink about the definition of democracy. In a classic sense, democracy means rule by the many. However, the majority of people do not have the right to rule as they want even if they attain power through free election. We must not forget that a lot of dictators around the world have come to power through democracy, i.e. the vote by the majority.

Hitler is a good example. Therefore, election victory does not automatically mean democracy. The majority in power through free election must abide by a framework of democracy and then what do we mean by a framework of democracy?

A framework of democracy means the principles of human rights. In other words, the majority in power must govern within the framework that respects human rights and under no circumstances should they have right to violate it. Any majority in power have no right to suppress women, the half of society on the grounds of religion. At the moment, the Iranian women are suppressed on religious grounds of Islam. Anyone in power has no right to suppress freedom of expressing one’s own beliefs in justification of ideology.

What has happened in Cuba and China are good examples. Anyone in power has no right to restrict freedom of citizens. North Korea that wiretaps people’s telephone conversations and censors emails and parcels is another example. Based on the justice of democracy like this, the rulers must only find their legitimacy with the respect for the public vote and human rights as well as the public vote. Under no circumstances, disrespect for human rights is acceptable on any grounds including cultural difference, religion or ideology.

The second foundation for peace is social justice. Tranquility cannot be established in a society with extreme class discrimination. Happy days will come one day when our neighbours do not starve. How can we desire the establishment of peace around the international society when 1 per cent of the whole population has more than 75% of the world’s wealth?

According to the data published by the International Labour Organization in 2008, about 100,003 thousand children worldwide have dangerous jobs. Social justice is an important matter that must be dealt with great attention internationally and also nationally. A society with the big division between the haves and the have-nots cannot be a tranquil society. Historical experiences provide proof of this.