From the post-World War II establishment of the U.N., to the annual celebration of International Day of Peace on September 21st, the world has championed peace as a shared ideal. Nations have reaffirmed, at least in writing, their commitment to preventing war and protecting human life. However, those declarations appear increasingly hollow in 2025. Ongoing conflicts and weak international responses show that many countries are no longer committed to the values they claim to uphold.
Disturbances Around the World Undermine Peace
The war in Ukraine, now in its third year, has become a symbol of this dissonance. After the 1994 Budapest Memorandum, international powers pledged to uphold peace and territorial integrity in Eastern Europe. It was meant to guarantee Ukraine’s sovereignty in exchange for giving up nuclear weapons. But, Russia’s 2022 invasion, and the world’s struggle to respond decisively, undermined that commitment. Broader peace remains out of reach, making the 1994 vows seem increasingly irrelevant.
Recently, similar contradictions have appeared in Africa. In Sudan, a brutal civil war between the military and paramilitary RSF has displaced millions. Despite repeated ceasefires and mediation attempts by international bodies such as the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, violence continues. The use of starvation as a weapon —a direct violation of international humanitarian law— has drawn criticism but little intervention.
Meanwhile, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), rebel forces supported by neighboring states have seized key territories, including the city of Goma. U.N. peacekeepers have suffered casualties, but global attention still remains limited. Celebrating the end of wars throughout the years seems oddly incongruous with the nations’ attempts to uphold the Geneva Conventions.
The symbolism of peace is preserved, but the physical manifestation of it is fading.
When viewed alongside global commemorations and historical benchmarks, these contradictions are especially striking. This year’s 80th anniversary of the end of World War II in Europe —a moment to remind the world of the cost of unchecked aggression. Yet, as nations prepare to deliver speeches and lay wreaths at memorials, largely ignored or insufficiently addressed conflicts rage on in multiple regions. The symbolism of peace is preserved, but the physical manifestation of it is fading.
Global Contradictions
Some argue that changing geopolitical realities require nuanced responses: they point to the economic pressures following the COVID-19 pandemic, energy security concerns and the complexity of asymmetric warfare. Other claims state that international interventions often backfire or prolong conflicts. These concerns are not unfounded, but, the absence of concrete alternatives or sustained leadership suggests an issue of complacency rather than complexity. Global peace commitments were never perfect, but they served as a moral compass and a framework for accountability. When governments honor peace through ceremonies and statements, but fail to back those values with action, they risk normalizing conflict and undermining the principles that once helped maintain international order.
The erosion of global peace commitments reflects a weakening of collective responsibility. As conflicts persist and new ones emerge, it is essential to restore not only the institutions and treaties that support peace, but also the political will to uphold them.
The future will depend on whether nations can recommit to shared ideals without becoming increasingly polarized. Conflict prevention cannot remain sidelined until disaster strikes —it must be a priority woven into trade agreements, development aid, climate talks and national policymaking.
The focus moving forward must be less about preserving the image of peace and more about rebuilding the substance of it. Without shared commitments that prompt countries to act, the ideals expressed in past declarations, memorials and global observances will just become testaments to a time when peace held physical meaning.
Acknowledgement: The ideas expressed are those of the individual author.
