Allegedly, Russia wants peace with Ukraine, less than a month after its invasion of Ukraine. To many people, this desire is (very) hard to believe. Hence, some argue that it’s a tactical move (eg, replenishing Russian troops). Why trust an aggressor and a war criminal? Moreover, what is peace? The absence of war?
When I was in my teens in the 1970’s, there was a running joke about Germans visiting the Netherlands: they are either here to steal or return (the stolen) Dutch bicycles during WWII. I haven’t heard that joke for decades. I suppose we are at (full) peace with the Germans now.
From 2010 to 2014, I’ve been in a divorce battle. Since several years, the dust has settled. Some might call this peace. I would not. It’s merely the absence of conflict. I will never trust her again.
I suppose it’s similar for Ukraine. It may take a full generation (ie, some 80 years) to start having friendly relations with a neighbouring state.
As Dutch politician Johan Thorbecke once stated: Trust arrives on foot and leaves on horseback.
In 2021, Prof Dr Michael Brzoska published an article for the Institute for Peace Research and Security Policy (IFSH) at the University of Hamburg: Is Peace the Absence of War? The article defines 3 basic approaches:
- A narrow concept of peace: the absence of war (a.k.a. “negative peace”);
- A broader concept of peace, the absence of the prerequisites for violence (a.k.a. “positive peace”);
- The combined broad and narrow concepts: the reduction of the probability that war will occur again.
In the 2022 Russia-Ukraine war, the 2nd approach to peace may have become possible now that Ukraine seems to have accepted that it will never be granted a NATO membership (eg, Newsweek-15 March).
In my view, the 3rd approach to peace is (very) unlikely because the probability of a future Russia-Ukraine war has not reduced, and will not even reduce without a fundamental shake-up of Russian leadership.
Perhaps, the final stage of peace is peace of mind: “a mental state of calmness or tranquility, a freedom from worry and anxiety.”
“Peace is not everything, but without peace everything is nothing.”
A quote by Willy Brandt (1913-1992), a German politician and statesman.
I Wish You Peace (1975) by the Eagles, featuring Bernie Leadon on lead vocals
artists, artist, lyrics, video, Wiki-1, Wiki-2, Wiki-3
[Chorus]
I wish you peace when times are hard
The light to guide you through the dark
And when storms are high and your, your dreams are low
I wish you the strength to let love grow on
I wish you the strength to let love flow
Note: all markings (bold, italic, underlining) by LO unless in quotes or stated otherwise.
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