1. Steps towards peacebuilding

The 18th century is widely known as the end of Europe’s decline. In line with the Industrial Revolution, there was significant growth in industry, agriculture, production, and transportation. At the same time, we witnessed the beginning of a widespread “peace movement” on this continent, with the starting point being Immanuel Kant’s essay “Perpetual Peace.” In this essay, Kant discussed the foundations for creating a framework for unity among nations and establishing an organization for world peace.

However, it took 150 years for the formation of the United Nations and this organization’s goal of achieving world peace to come to fruition, far beyond the “Perpetual Peace” essay. The concept of peace research, which aims to understand and provide the necessary conditions for peace, has never been foreign to Europe. The tradition of holding conferences and gatherings on the topic of peace and for the purpose of achieving more peace in the world – as mentioned in a part of Alfred Nobel’s will regarding the Peace Prize

2. Internal Struggles and Sustainable Peace in the Continent

Contrary to the peaceful proposals of Kant and Hugo for the unity of nations, Europe began a new decline with the First and Second World Wars and numerous invasions and crimes. However, this destruction and periodic wars in Europe came to an end with the formation of the “European Economic Community” between six countries and the signing of the Rome Treaty. The strong legal framework of the economic community, later known as the “European Union”, promoted development and democracy with remarkable growth.

The common currency under the supervision of the central bank, common agricultural policies, common trade policies, common fisheries policies, common foreign and security policies, and the turning point of all these achievements, the “Schengen Agreement” and the removal of border checkpoints, brought peace, tranquility, and development to Europe after centuries of turmoil.
The European Economic Community, which first emerged after World War II with a clear vision and correct understanding of the integration of economy and politics, successfully achieved its goals. These goals were not only about peace in the region, preventing another possible war, and rebuilding Europe.
The political struggles within the European Union between the “statist” and “multinationalist” factions were balanced, and this union paved the way for peace on the continent.
From the devastation of world wars to becoming the world’s largest economy in 2007 with 1/3 of the world’s gross domestic product, it was a long journey. However, common economic policies, a strong

Internal Consequences and External Performance

The modern world is waiting for an era that begins with a return to an ideal. An ideal called freedom that brought together a nation over 2 centuries ago, and laid the foundation for a new world based on respect for human beings, reason, and their freedom.
During these two centuries, a magnificent struggle for the defense of humanity began, and great enemies such as European absolute governments, fascism, and communism were brought to their knees.
But today, once again, we witness a bipolar world. A world where on one side, defenders of freedom and human values stand, and on the other side, violators of human rights are placed.
When the wars of Europe ended with the formation of the European Economic Community, and the motivation to join the European Union for the sake of common economic policies and wider trade communities led to the establishment of democracy in countries like Portugal, Greece, and Spain, when nationalism did not become a threat to national sovereignty and democracy, meaning the desire for freedom and defense of

-Aid of 46 million euros to Morocco for improving “gender equality”
-Aid to increase Tajikistan’s budget towards “human resource development”
-Aid of 3 million euros to improve “health, livelihood, and education” for Afghan refugees in Iran
-Aid of 40 million euros for host countries of “Syrian refugees”
-Aid to Egypt for “developing water supply network for over 15 million Egyptian citizens”
-Aid of 82 million euros to Somalia to increase 17,000 “peacekeepers for stability and development”
-Aid of 100 million euros for “improving water quality and waste management” in the Gaza Strip.

These were only a few of the European Union’s efforts outside of its borders. An attempt to respect human rights and defend freedom and peace, which demonstrate the Union’s responsibility and fight against human rights violators and enemies of freedom.

Peace and politics

In the critics’ view, awarding the Nobel Peace Prize to the European Union highlights the war-mongering policies of this union. These policies include occupying the Middle East, waging war against Gaddafi, and imposing severe sanctions against the Islamic Republic.
2 Questions:
1. Is an abstract interpretation of “peace” enough to justify peaceful policies?
2. Is an abstract interpretation of “policy” enough to justify war-mongering policies?
Peace, respect for humanity, and defense of its values are intertwined and their separation will only result in false interpretations. As the process of redefining political borders is linked to rethinking cultural borders.

What the concept of human rights refers to is claims related to universal and global values that may contradict local cultural values. It is not possible to make a comprehensive and accurate judgment about political boundaries and policies based on cultural values alone.

According to the writer, looking at current policies and describing them politically is a major and widespread weakness in the discourse of many critics. Looking at social and political sciences should not be a descriptive approach and examining the static situation without considering the dynamic and future potential will not be helpful.

We cannot talk about these sciences and ignore the concerns, problems, crises, and deficiencies of societies and be indifferent to these issues. In the discourse of these critics, adopting an analytical and at the same time prescriptive approach is necessary for political problems.

Of course, using rational methods to achieve a personal and irrational or non-public goal does not make it rational. Rationalization in this definition requires a reasoned defense of that goal based on public criteria, and of course, such a defense takes place in

5. Dreams and Reality of Peace

In the eyes of the writer, the world is waiting for an era in which Europe sees it. A society that has made defending humanity, reason, and freedom its goal, both within and beyond its borders.
A society that began its efforts with the peace-loving Emmanuel Kant and Victor Hugo, and received the first Nobel Peace Prize through the initiative of Dunant in founding the Red Cross and the Geneva Convention. And through the efforts of dozens of individuals, such as Harti Ahthysari, it has worked towards resolving international conflicts. And today, the European Union receives the Nobel Peace Prize on behalf of the continent.
A prize that, as Barroso says, belongs to 500 million citizens.