How to Prevent — or Stop — a War | Gabrielle Rifkind | TED

Summary

The speaker, an expert in international conflict resolution, discusses the consequences of recent wars involving Western countries and argues that war is the greatest human rights abuse. They emphasize the importance of early mediation, understanding the motivations of opponents, and addressing the security concerns of all sides. The speaker highlights the need for dialogue, even with adversaries, to prevent conflicts from escalating. They advocate for empowering institutions like the UN to act early and mediate conflicts, suggesting that liberal democracies should focus on being mediators and bridge builders rather than weapons suppliers.

Takeaways

• 🌍 War is the greatest human rights abuse and doesn't make the world safer.
• ⚔️ The 21st century has seen major conflicts like Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, and the fight against ISIS.
• 🔍 Despite military efforts, none of these wars addressed the root causes of conflict, leaving chaos in their wake.
• 💡 There are alternatives to war, such as early mediation and understanding the enemy's perspective.
• 🧠 Marginalization, humiliation, and exclusion are key drivers of war, and addressing them is crucial for peace.
• 🤝 Dialogue with adversaries is essential, even with violent actors, to prevent or resolve conflicts.
• 💬 Western governments could have avoided some conflicts by addressing security concerns of all sides, like in Ukraine and Russia.
• 🇺🇳 The UN needs to be empowered for early mediation and war prevention, with permanent peace-building teams in conflict zones.
• 🌱 Liberal democracies should focus on being mediators and bridge-builders, not just suppliers of weapons.
• 🚫 War can be prevented if addressed early; it is not inevitable, and millions of lives can be saved by stopping it quickly.

Q & A

What is the main argument presented by the speaker regarding war?

The speaker argues that war is the greatest human rights abuse and does not make the world safer. Instead of resolving conflicts, it unleashes chaos and misery, and the focus should be on prevention, mediation, and addressing the root causes of conflict.

How does the speaker view the outcomes of recent wars involving the US, UK, and their allies?

The speaker views these wars as failures, noting that in Afghanistan the Taliban regained power, in Iraq civil war followed a short-lived victory, the war in Libya led to chaos in the Sahel, and the war against Islamic State did not address the root causes of extremism.

What alternative approaches to war does the speaker suggest?

The speaker advocates for early mediation, addressing the security concerns of all sides, and creating diplomatic channels to communicate with the political leadership of adversarial nations. The speaker emphasizes understanding the motivations of 'the enemy' to prevent conflict.

Why does the speaker believe it is important to talk to adversaries?

The speaker believes that refusing to talk to adversaries dehumanizes them and prolongs conflict. Examples include how early talks with groups like the IRA and FARC helped resolve conflicts, and how refusing to engage with President Assad of Syria worsened the crisis there.

What does the speaker say about NATO’s role in the Russia-Ukraine war?

The speaker argues that NATO's expansion toward Russia's borders contributed to the conflict, suggesting that addressing both Russia's and Europe's security concerns before the war could have prevented it. The speaker notes that Putin warned of war if NATO approached Russia’s borders.

How does the speaker propose handling the current Russia-Ukraine conflict?

The speaker proposes that ending the war will require engaging with President Putin, understanding his red lines, and exploring opportunities for a ceasefire. The speaker emphasizes the importance of finding a diplomatic solution rather than solely focusing on military strategies.

What does the speaker say about the conflict between Israel and Hamas?

The speaker acknowledges the difficulty of engaging with Hamas after the massacre on October 7 but argues that Hamas will need to be included in future peace processes. The speaker highlights Marwan Barghouti as a potential unifying figure for Palestinians, despite his controversial past.

What does the speaker suggest about the role of the UN in conflict prevention?

The speaker calls for empowering the UN to play a more active role in conflict prevention, proposing statutory early mediation and the establishment of permanent peace tables in conflict-prone regions. This would help address tensions before they escalate into full-blown wars.

What does the speaker mean by saying 'war is like a cancer'?

The speaker compares war to cancer because it spreads quickly and becomes harder to stop the longer it goes untreated. The speaker stresses the importance of addressing conflict early to prevent it from escalating and save lives.

How does the speaker believe liberal democracies should position themselves in global conflicts?

The speaker believes liberal democracies should act as mediators and bridge builders rather than self-appointed global policemen or suppliers of weapons. They should focus on conflict prevention, mediation, and understanding the security concerns of all parties involved in disputes.