If current crises like environmental degradation and social inequality can be said to be the result of our economic and social systems, the concept of a degrowth economy has been advanced as a possible solution. Degrowth is in direct contrast to economic systems such as capitalism or sustainable growth, and

Ronald Castro Fernández describes the circumstances around Costa Rica's decision to abolish the army in 1948, and its enshrinement into the constitution in 1949.

David Golding examines how the Guatemalan military specifically targeted maize and milpa in its operations during the 1970s and 80s. He argues that the objective of these campaigns was to subjugate Mayan cultural space and food production, previously autonomous, to state control under the guise of development.

Mahmoud Abdou discusses the differences and similarities between humanitarianism and peacebuilding in both operational and ideological terms, and shows how they have increasingly supported each other in the post-Cold War era as instruments of the liberal peace approach to global governance.

Vital Nshimirimana discusses the issue of protection of human rights defenders in Burundi. He argues that human rights defenders are subject to assassinations, kidnappings, death threats and intimidations. He assesses the relationship between human rights defenders and public authorities and regrets that activists are often viewed as enemies of the

The upcoming presidential elections in Mexico may provide an opportunity to break from the failed policies of the ongoing "war on drugs" and pursue an alternative, rights-based, and public health-centered drug policy. After discussing the social costs and self-defeating rhetoric of the "war on drugs", this paper offers some hope

Animals, plants, and the wider natural world are often reduced to mere "environment", a backdrop for human affairs over which we assume absolute superiority and dominion. In this thought provoking essay, Febna Reheem Caven argues that our physiology, psychology, identity, cultural expressions, and ultimately, our existence depend on the active

Across the Horn of Africa, between 10 and 12 million people are now affected by the worst drought in more than 60 years. As respective nations come together and the international community gets summoned to help, Patrick Mugo Mugo investigates: What is being done? Why have the leaders in the

Surya Nath Prasad explores the esoteric in this opinion piece on the spiritual relationship of oneness between humankind and the universe, connecting the essence of "global man" to the realization of peace on Earth.

This is excerpt from the speech delivered by Dr. Prasad at the International Academic Peace Conference on the eve of UN International Peace Day at Hotel Lotte, Seoul organized by Institute of International Peace Studies, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.