Peacebuilding: A Conceptual Overview

Abstract

This article aims to establish a conceptual framework for understanding peacebuilding and explore how such a process can be achieved. It raises fundamental questions such as: Can peace be built? If so, what are its key components, tools, and indicators? Despite the increasing threats of structural violence, ranging from interpersonal harm to environmental destruction and war, global efforts to protect life and establish lasting peace continue. While significant strides have been made toward peace since World War II, violent approaches still appear to wield significant power. Furthermore, technological advances have further intensified these threats by enabling the production and proliferation of increasingly destructive weapons. Peacebuilding is not merely a political or diplomatic endeavor; it is also a complex, long-term, and multidimensional process involving cultural, environmental, social, and individual transformation. Peacebuilding is a crucial approach and concept in establishing a culture of peace. Ultimately, peacebuilding is about the survival of life on Earth. From a rational and ethical perspective, preventing violence and achieving universal peace is imperative. In this context, the discipline of public health, dedicated to improving the quality and length of life, plays a key role in interacting with peace, one of the fundamental determinants of human and planetary well-being.