Four German institutes specializing in the study of peace signal the accelerated degradation of the rules-based global order and the emergence of a pattern of state behavior compared to that of “warlords“.
German soldiers. PHOTO Bundeswehr
“Democracies are under pressure globally,” said conflict expert Conrad Schetter, on the occasion of the launch of the Annual Peace Report, produced by Bicc (Bonn International Center for the Study of Conflicts), IFSH (Hamburg Institute for Peace and Security Policy Research), INEF (Institute for Development and Peace of the University of Duisburg) and PRIF (Leibniz Institute for Peace Research), reports the dpa agency, quoted by Agerpres.
According to him, not only is the number of democracies decreasing, but their quality is also declining, in parallel with the erosion of the rules-based international system.
The document points out that the United Nations is going through a deep crisis, marked by the competition of the great powers, which blocks decisions, especially at the level of the Security Council, but also by increasingly severe financial constraints.
However, the authors of the report insist that the UN remains indispensable, in the absence of a viable alternative.
The researchers call on Germany to step up its cooperation with small and medium-sized states to support reform of the organization and ensure stable funding.
2021–2024 the most violent period
The report also shows that the period 2021–2024 was the most violent since the end of the Cold War. 61 armed conflicts have been documented in 36 states, and the number of displaced people has exceeded 120 million globally in April 2025.
In the assessment made by the authors of the report, many governments are increasingly acting according to the logic “warlords”violating international law and using force to impose its interests.
Examples cited include the actions of the United States, Russia and Israel, as well as regional interventions by states such as Pakistan, Turkey, Ethiopia or the Gulf monarchies.
At the same time, the institutes warn that the reduction of international aid contributes to the worsening of instability in fragile states and reduces the effectiveness of conflict prevention measures.
In order to consolidate peace, the report advocates for credible security guarantees, compliance with international law, the careful use of sanctions and the building of solid state institutions.
