Re-examining our Capacity for Just Peace

For decades, Carnegie Council for Ethics in International Affairs has rigorously explored the tension between perpetual conflict and the value of human life. While debates on war and peace are far from novel, the importance of achieving just peace is heightened today by current regional wars, frozen conflicts, and the deployment of new military technologies.

In this panel discussion as part of the Ethics Empowered: Leadership in Practice series, distinguished experts reflected on the state of war in 2025 and the obstacles to achieving just peace.

Resources

"Department of Violence," Christopher Kutz, Ethics & International Affairs, November 17, 2025

"Review of How to End a War: Essays on Justice, Peace, and Repair," Lonneke Peperkamp, Ethics & International Affairs, Fall 2023 (37.3 Issue)

Discussion Questions

1. What are some examples of successful and lasting peace and truth and reconciliation processes?
2. What values should guide leaders as they work to build consensus around pathways to just peace?
3. How should ethical oversight evolve when conflict expands into new domains, such as space, where norms and rules are still being formed?
4. What does meaningful intergenerational dialogue look like in the context of war, peace, and justice?
5. How can local communities and international actors work constructively with those they disagree with to advance shared goals for just peace?

Carnegie Council for Ethics in International Affairs is an independent and nonpartisan nonprofit. The views expressed within this panel are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the position of Carnegie Council.