Global Security in Crisis: Why Governments Must Fund Peace, Not Just War

Illustrative Image: Global Security in Crisis: Why Governments Must Fund Peace, Not Just War
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A Planet Under Siege

Global security is in a state of profound crisis. Indicators across nearly every region reveal an alarming deterioration in peace and stability. In 2024, the world experienced the highest number of state-based armed conflicts since the end of the Second World War in 1946. Military expenditure, already rising for a decade, surpassed a staggering US$2.7 trillion, reflecting the world’s growing dependence on arms rather than diplomacy.

But behind these numbers lies a more troubling reality — a world increasingly defined by fear, polarization, and ecological collapse. Millions of people, particularly women and children, continue to bear the brunt of armed conflict. As global tensions multiply, the fragile gains in human rights, democracy, and gender equality are being systematically eroded.

Interlinked Crises: Climate, Conflict, and Collapse

The world is not only grappling with more wars — it is also confronting the compounding effects of climate change, food insecurity, and social fragmentation. These crises are intertwined. Rising global temperatures exacerbate water scarcity, food shortages, and mass displacement — conditions that make conflict more likely.

The United Nations Summit for the Future in 2024 sought to address what Secretary-General António Guterres described as “the collapse of the post-Cold War multilateral system.” Yet, even as global leaders meet to discuss cooperation, the underlying structure of peacekeeping, mediation, and diplomacy continues to weaken.

Moreover, militaries themselves are among the world’s largest polluters. The environmental footprint of warfare — from the destruction of ecosystems to carbon emissions from military operations — constitutes a form of ecocide. The irony is striking: the very systems built to “defend” humanity are accelerating the planet’s destruction.

The Global Arms Race Intensifies

In response to growing insecurity, governments have overwhelmingly chosen militarization over mediation. The 2025 NATO summit exemplified this trend, with member states pledging to allocate up to 5% of GDP to defence and security expenditures by 2035. This follows a decade of consistent military expansion in Europe, the United States, China, and Russia.

In Europe, fears of Russian aggression after the 2022 invasion of Ukraine continue to shape political priorities. Russian drones have recently violated NATO airspace, deepening anxieties and justifying further rearmament. Meanwhile, China has increased military spending for 30 consecutive years, and the United States — the world’s largest spender — continues to pour billions into global conflicts, including extensive aid to Israel amid accusations of genocide in Gaza.

The logic is circular: insecurity justifies arms spending, and arms spending fuels insecurity.

The Cost of Neglecting Peace

While defence budgets soar, institutions dedicated to peacebuilding are being dismantled or defunded. The United States Institute of Peace (USIP) — established by Congress under President Ronald Reagan — was shuttered in early 2025 under the Trump administration. Although its closure is being contested in court, its dissolution symbolizes a broader pattern: peace is no longer politically profitable.

Peace organizations face shrinking budgets, donor fatigue, and a shift toward short-term, project-based funding that undermines their ability to pursue structural and long-term peacebuilding. Women-led peace initiatives are especially underfunded, despite the 25th anniversary of the UN Women, Peace and Security Agenda, which recognizes women’s indispensable role in preventing and resolving conflicts.

The result is devastating. From Afghanistan, where the Taliban’s rule institutionalizes gender apartheid, to Palestine, where international observers have described the systematic killing of women and girls as a femigenocide, the erosion of peace and gender justice go hand in hand.

The Fragmentation of Global Peace Architecture

The architecture of global peace — institutions, treaties, norms, and diplomatic mechanisms — is eroding under the weight of nationalism and great-power rivalry. Humanitarian crises are escalating not only because of violence but also because international coordination has broken down.

In this fragmented world, the pursuit of peace is often replaced by what analysts call “deal-making”: transactional negotiations that prioritize immediate political or military gains over long-term stability and justice. Temporary ceasefires or “tactical pauses” are substituted for genuine peace agreements. The emphasis has shifted from resolution to containment.

Such practices undermine the core principles of liberal peacemaking — inclusivity, impartiality, and sustainability — and create the illusion of stability while perpetuating cycles of violence.

Investing in Peace: A Strategic Imperative

The idea that military power ensures safety is a myth. History has shown that arms build deterrence, not peace. Without addressing the root causes of violence — inequality, injustice, political exclusion, and environmental degradation — no amount of defence spending can secure the future.

True security is multidimensional. It requires not only national defence but also:

• Investment in peace research and early warning systems to identify and de-escalate conflicts before they erupt.

• Support for mediation and reconciliation processes that prioritize dialogue over dominance.

• Empowerment of women and marginalized communities, whose participation is proven to enhance the durability of peace agreements.

• Sustainable development and climate adaptation, which reduce the structural drivers of instability.

As Chris Coulter, Executive Director of the Berghof Foundation, aptly notes:

“A truly secure world needs dialogue and peacebuilding, not just defence budgets.”

A Call for a Paradigm Shift

Humanity stands at a crossroads. Governments must confront an uncomfortable truth: investing in war has become easier than investing in peace. Yet, the moral and existential cost of this imbalance grows daily.

If the current trajectory continues — with defence budgets expanding while peace institutions wither — the international order will face irreversible decline. The alternative is clear: redirect a portion of the world’s vast military expenditure toward peacebuilding, education, diplomacy, and climate resilience.

In doing so, the global community can redefine what it means to be secure — not through domination, but through cooperation, justice, and human dignity.

The survival of our species depends not on how many weapons we can build, but on how much peace we can create.