Peace Building
Middle School
Definition
The work of preventing conflict and creating lasting peace, especially after war. It includes rebuilding institutions, supporting reconciliation, and addressing the causes of conflict so that violence does not return.
Worked examples
After the Rwandan genocide, the government created community courts (gacaca) where victims and perpetrators talked openly, aiming to heal divisions.
These courts addressed past violence and helped rebuild trust, a key part of peace building.
In post-conflict Liberia, peace building included training new police, reforming courts, and programs to reintegrate former child soldiers into society.
Rebuilding institutions and supporting individuals prevents the return to war.
Common mistakes
- Peace building is the same as signing a peace treaty. → Peace building is the long-term work after a treaty to prevent conflict from restarting. A treaty ends fighting; peace building addresses root causes like poverty, injustice, and weak institutions.
- Peace building only happens in countries that had a civil war. → Peace building also prevents conflict in places with rising tensions or fragile governments. It includes prevention work, not just recovery after war.
- Peace building is mainly about military peacekeeping forces. → Peace building focuses on institutions, reconciliation, and root causes; peacekeepers help create safe conditions. Peacekeepers provide security, but peace building is the broader social and political work.
Where you'll use it next
You'll apply peace building when studying international relations, post-conflict reconstruction, human rights, and development. It connects to units on the United Nations, transitional justice, and global governance.
See also
ReconciliationDecolonizationHuman Rights FrameworksInternational OrganizationsUnited NationsSocial Movements
Reviewed by Pat Cheng, M.Ed. — StudyPug Curriculum Lead · Last updated June 6, 2026