From: Student Pugwash USA <uspugwash@igc.apc.org>
Newsgroups: alt.org.pugwash
Date: 14 Dec 92 11:52 PST
Subject: Re: *Tough Questions: Fall 92 News
Nf-ID: #R:cdp:1758700030:cdp:1758700039:000:4870
Nf-From: cdp.UUCP!uspugwash    Dec 14 11:52:00 1992


Tough Questions - Conference Issue 1992

PEACE AS A PROCESS
By Matthew Udziela

     The first issue that needs to be recognized when considering 
the concept of global security is that of definitions.  What is 
peace?  Peace and security for whom?  A comprehensive notion of 
peace and security must include several factors.  Peace is not 
just the absence of war, but the absence of the potential for 
war, and as such must incorporate issues of health and education. 
Similarly, a country cannot be called secure if it does not fulfill 
the basic needs of its people.  Security is inextricably linked to 
national well-being and therefore must  address such issues as 
environmental degradation, resource allocation, and sustainable 
development.

     The end of the Cold War has resulted in both challenges and 
opportunities for global peace and security.  While there is 
increased cooperation between the superpowers,  there are also new 
instabilities being created as smaller nations, previously armed 
along Cold War lines, experience a marked decrease in weapons 
shipments from their former guardians.  While increased economic 
interdependence opens avenues for cooperation, all countries must 
balance this with the need to retain national sovereignty.  
Accordingly, this diverse spectrum of tensions demands an equally 
diverse spectrum of solutions, alliances and treaties.

     Europe is beginning its well-publicized cooperation through the 
EEC, but the same dynamism can be found in Asia with no formal 
organizational body.  The spread of democracy can be seen in light 
of this search for new solutions, as well.  However, while the 
current model of liberal democracy may create stability, this is by 
no means a foregone conclusion.  Democratic leaders are prevented 
from more extreme actions by their constituencies.  We must search 
for ways to improve all governmental structures if we hope to meet 
the challenges that lie ahead.

     Proliferation of nuclear weapons and the arms trade must be 
stopped, and the US must take the lead here.  The most recent US-
CIS treaty (June 1992) is a promising first step, but the US should 
continue with new actions and military reductions.  India and 
Pakistan may proliferate, but both are looking for paths to peace, 
and should be shown the way.   Of course, deeds are more powerful 
than words, but words are also important and must be expressed. 

     Issues of  equity and access must also be addressed, in our 
search for global peace and security.  For developing nations 
especially, security is linked to the procurement of common basic 
needs.  Thus, resource allocations must be revamped, from the 
individual to the national level.  Sister city programs must be 
strengthened and expanded, for direct aid between cities is often 
more efficient than hierarchical governmental programs.  Governments 
must learn to cooperate as Finland has done by donating its old 
computers and technology to the Balkans.  Furthermore, success in 
these types of resource allocation and re-allocation programs is 
greatly enhanced by a visibility of accounting practices and 
information exchange.  If you can show people where all the funds 
are going, pressure increases on leaders to stop the accumulation of 
wealth and work toward a more equitable distribution.  In the 
interim, a world court could help to mediate conflicts and 
aggression centered around these issues.  It need not have the 
power to pass judgement to be effective.

     Above all, knowledge empowers.  We must give more money for 
education Q specifically primary education.  This is usually more 
efficient when carried out through non-governmental agencies.  In 
addition, we must give materials, even simple ones such as paper and 
textbooks.  Texts must not be ethnocentric, however, as the 
educational initiatives we support must be part of a foundation to 
build a global community.

     Peace is a process, not a goal.  To fully engage in this 
process, we must blend the visionary with the pragmatic. We must 
take big steps and small steps when appropriate.  In an effort to 
decrease international secrecy and increase levels of trust, we must 
foster new ways of understanding through communications, student 
exchanges, and community living.  Towards this end, reducing 
international airline fares  is one small step that should be 
considered.  On a larger scale, European developments provide new 
models for economic sharing.  West-East relations can reduce tensions 
and increase transparency.  Perhaps we should change the familiar 
saying to, 'Act globally, act locally.'

     Peace is not static; we move through it.  We must increase trust 
through avenues such as the SPUSA International Conferences.  We must 
stop hiding from each other and begin to act as if we are all part of 
one family.