World chaos, in an increasingly interdependent and  crowded world, is an invitation to disaster.   Continued reliance on weapons of  mass destruction to enforce "peace," coupled with widespread poverty indicate  that the existing system is leaning toward chaos.

The Cold War political order has dissolved faster  than visions of a new order are being developed. It is not enough for each  nation to have its own vision of a better future. Unless the vision is shared by  interdependent nations, coordinated actions in pursuit of mutually beneficial  goals are unlikely. A cooperative vision is urgently needed.

Our  Mission

The Center for Global Peace provides a framework  for programs and initiatives that advance the study and understanding of world  peace grounded in a search for a just and sustainable world order. The Center  works to embody the invitation in American University's Statement of Common  Purpose, "turning ideas into action...and actions into service."

Our Goal

Peace includes both the absence of  direct physical violence and war, and the elimination of structural violence  which is the consequence of institutions and processes that diminish the  material and spiritual quality of human life and degrade the natural  environment. By seeking to better understand the social, political, cultural,  economic, and civic structures whose deterioration can lead to violence and  social upheaval, we contribute to the identification of and support for measures  to restore and enhance peace. Center activities focus, therefore, on the  interdependent global system, identifying common interests and working toward  common security.

Our  Commitment

The Center fosters a sustainable world  order and focuses on four pillars of existence:

The Human Environment: the need for survival, material well-being, and a meaningful life lived in freedom and with dignity The Economic and Political Environment: core assumptions and beliefs upon which our society is organized and institutions that foster a pluralistic world community   The Cultural Environment: worldviews, lifestyles, and interactions rich in diversity, tolerance and cross-cultural understanding The Natural Environment: the planet, and the call to achieve ecological balance

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Last Updated: Thursday, April 27, 2000