New Delhi, August 28: A significant lecture on global peace issues was held at Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI), organized by the Center for Distance and Online Education (CDOE) in collaboration with the Nelson Mandela Center for Peace and Conflict Resolution (NMCPCR).
Chief Public Relations Officer Saima Saeed reported that Brett Saville, Chief Operating Officer of the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP) based in Sydney, delivered a keynote speech on “Global Peace in 2026: Challenges and Opportunities” at the CDOE conference hall.
Saville discussed the evolving landscape of global peace in the context of the Global Peace Index (GPI), which assesses peace based on 23 indicators, including social safety, ongoing conflicts, and militarization.
He noted that there has been a decline in global peace for 15 out of the last 18 years. According to an official statement, he highlighted the changing nature of conflicts, emphasizing the increasing roles of external forces, proxy actors, and protracted conflicts.
Regarding India, Saville stated that comparing it with smaller, relatively homogeneous countries fails to accurately reflect its size, diversity, and geographical complexities. He suggested that comparisons with larger nations like China, the United States, and Brazil could provide more meaningful insights.
He also addressed the rising use of artificial intelligence (AI) and drone warfare in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, drawing attention to the growing gap between investments in AI for warfare and for peace.
The statement mentioned that the lecture was conducted under the guidance of Vice-Chancellor Mazhar Asif and Registrar Mo. Mahtab Alam Rizvi. The event was led by Professor Aslam Khan, Director of CDOE, while Abu Zar Khairi, Director of NMCPCR, welcomed the distinguished speaker and attendees.
Rajiv Nayan from NMCPCR emphasized the need for a critical review of the methodologies and metrics used to measure peace. Citing Indian intellectual traditions, he stressed that justice is essential for achieving meaningful and sustainable peace.
Aslam Khan highlighted that peace cannot be understood merely as the absence of war or through a single metric. He called for a comprehensive, systems-based approach that recognizes the interconnected roles of security, development, governance, technology, justice, culture, and human welfare.
He also emphasized the necessity of critically reviewing global indices while developing approaches based on local contexts and intellectual traditions.
An interactive question-and-answer session followed the lecture, engaging faculty members, researchers, and students.
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